Having an Opinion
by
, November 26th, 2019 at 08:46 PM (497 Views)
That's become somewhat of a thinly veiled insult, calling someone "opinionated". It seems to set down the marker that the person with the opinion has closed their mind to new ideas, and is hostile to criticism.
Here's my take:
Having an opinion means that you have the acumen to reason, and the maturity to stand by your reasoned thoughts. It doesn't mean that you want to argue, and are spoiling for a fight all the time. It simply means that you believe in something. Being willing to "defend" an opinion is not hubris, partisanship or arrogance. It is confidence based on experience tempered with logic.
I write what I know. It pisses some off, because it challenges their opinion. I honestly don't care "how you feel" about how I see the facts. That's how I see them. If you see them differently, write how you see them. Feeling the need to attack another's opinion only shows the weakness and insecurity in your own. It is always easier to break-down than build-up. Or attack what you don't understand. Or fear.
The Long Knives are sheathed due to current policy. But the daggers still come out on a regular basis. They are used by those that oh so want to feel better about themselves through a virtue-signal stealth attack. I've been stabbed before for having an opinion. I will not wilt and retreat.
Writing without opinion is dross. It is a soulless journey into the depths of conformist brain-death. Is the goal of writing improvement to make every writer JK Rowling or Steven King? Or, is the task at hand to enable writers to tell their story, in their voice? The world is imperfect. I am imperfect. My opinion and voice are imperfect. But I am not parroting someone else for the Good of the Collective.
I'd say "I'm sorry" if my voice offends anyone. But I'm not sorry. We need to challenge one another. A heterogeneous ecosystem will die. It is ironic to see the religious zeal that some place on bio-diversity, yet actively suppress diversity of thought. But that's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. My opinion is that kind of thinking is unequivocally hypocritical.
Should I include more "I feel" disclaimers to soften my words? Cite my sources, so you don't have to look up stuff yourself? Police my language to prevent anyone from being "triggered"?
The world isn't a Freshman English class. No one truly learns through rote training and conditioning (like a dog). We learn by exploring, comparing and collaborating. Formulas are great for math, not for people.
If I was as much of an a-hole as some of you think, I would just keep my mouth shut. After all, most of you here will have to deal with this world longer than I will. (good luck with that). Y'all can play the blame-game, sit on the pity-pot, that is seriously up to you.
Or, we can talk.
In my humble opinion, writing is still by far the most effective form of communication. We can use our words to find common ground, solve problems and REASON. It's messy, but necessary. Limiting words, thoughts and opinions is the path to a stagnating, dying society.
But that is on you. I'm just one guy, with an opinion.