0
Opinions
Posted by
maure
,
05 August 2010
·
72 views
I'm facing an amount of work greater than usual. The next few months will be intense. The new computer arrived yesterday and I have now two top-end models running experiments 24/7. Fried an external HDD already, have eight more constantly crunching.
The point is, I need a place to think and relax in order to cope. So here is my first ever blog.
I will type about opinions first because today one of my grandfathers came to mind. He died when I was quite small yet old enough to recall some of the things he liked to say. He was a charismatic fellow who naturally received the respect and attention of others. I remember him saying quite often "I prefer to tell a joke than to give an opinion". I thought he was a very funny guy (which he was) and only understood his words once I grew up.
Opinions... it is often said that we are all entitled to our own opinion. This isn't so. We are not born with such entitlement. In fact, there are too many countries on this world where one is _not_ entitled to an opinion... and if we look back to history, matters get far, far, far worse.
What is true about opinions is something darker and far more sinister than entitlement. An opinion implies a responsibility. Make that a maxim in case you missed it. An opinion implies a responsibility. Savor it, let it swirl in and over your tongue... hmmmm, yes, yes, you can see how that works. You express an opinion, a thought, an idea, and you create something that can affect not only your live but the lives of others.
And what if someone is actually _convinced_ by your opinions. Then your responsibilities have increased a million-fold as chances are that that someone is an adult (if it is at all) only biologically and will point your way when some-other-someone asks for responsibilities.
Yet we are in a culture that encourages people to give opinions. When was the last time you heard a person say "I have no opinion on that matter"? Or, "I reserve my opinion on that matter"? Etc, etc. It appears that along with the notion of "independent thinking" comes the paradoxical need to demonstrate it so at every opportunity... which brings about the second maxim of this entry, that is, regardless of the topic, most people most of the time are talking about themselves. It couldn't possibly be any other way.
So, let's recap. You are not entitled to an opinion anymore than to private property. There has to be a state of law that allows you to be entitled to an opinion. Second, expressing an opinion is nothing more than incurring in a responsibility. Last, if you express an opinion, it is quite likely you are simply talking about yourself rather than whatever topic you think you are giving an opinion on.
Work calls.
The point is, I need a place to think and relax in order to cope. So here is my first ever blog.
I will type about opinions first because today one of my grandfathers came to mind. He died when I was quite small yet old enough to recall some of the things he liked to say. He was a charismatic fellow who naturally received the respect and attention of others. I remember him saying quite often "I prefer to tell a joke than to give an opinion". I thought he was a very funny guy (which he was) and only understood his words once I grew up.
Opinions... it is often said that we are all entitled to our own opinion. This isn't so. We are not born with such entitlement. In fact, there are too many countries on this world where one is _not_ entitled to an opinion... and if we look back to history, matters get far, far, far worse.
What is true about opinions is something darker and far more sinister than entitlement. An opinion implies a responsibility. Make that a maxim in case you missed it. An opinion implies a responsibility. Savor it, let it swirl in and over your tongue... hmmmm, yes, yes, you can see how that works. You express an opinion, a thought, an idea, and you create something that can affect not only your live but the lives of others.
And what if someone is actually _convinced_ by your opinions. Then your responsibilities have increased a million-fold as chances are that that someone is an adult (if it is at all) only biologically and will point your way when some-other-someone asks for responsibilities.
Yet we are in a culture that encourages people to give opinions. When was the last time you heard a person say "I have no opinion on that matter"? Or, "I reserve my opinion on that matter"? Etc, etc. It appears that along with the notion of "independent thinking" comes the paradoxical need to demonstrate it so at every opportunity... which brings about the second maxim of this entry, that is, regardless of the topic, most people most of the time are talking about themselves. It couldn't possibly be any other way.
So, let's recap. You are not entitled to an opinion anymore than to private property. There has to be a state of law that allows you to be entitled to an opinion. Second, expressing an opinion is nothing more than incurring in a responsibility. Last, if you express an opinion, it is quite likely you are simply talking about yourself rather than whatever topic you think you are giving an opinion on.
Work calls.
