A minor entry right now about something I haven't really understood for a while now. There seems to be a general call for people to append their opinions with the words 'I think' or 'in my opinion' in order to set them apart from facts. I cannot comprehend a world like this for several reasons.
1.It is
very easy to tell a fact from an opinion.
2. People misuse opinion and fact.
3.Language would be so boring and conversations so unwieldy.
It's a stupid idea. Now what was that, a fact or an opinion?
1. If I say 'elephants are a foot tall' you can probably tell me they're not with some certainty - perhaps you have looked at an elephant before, or have an unhealthy addiction to learning and an extensive encyclopedia collection. You will go 'no they're not' because you know it isn't true. On the other hand if I say 'My Chemical Romance is dross' you will instinctively know, because I judged something on a scale of goodness in this example, that I am expressing an opinion and you will react (hopefully) in an 'I agree Harry' way. It is our duty as thinking organisms to be able to detect through language what we mean. Nobody is confusing the term 'MCR is shite' for fact unless they lack a critical mind, and we should build this sort of skill up.
 |
| No... |
2. I think I touched on this idea in
my discussion of religion all those months back. In a world where people's views can be expressed as fact I face a brick wall. It is a fact that my opinion is that My Chemical Romance is not a fun band. But that doesn't not make 'My Chemical Romance is not a fun band' a fact. That's easy. However we have certain religious groups claiming that God exists purely because they believe he exists - this exposes a problem in that facts can be disputed in the same way opinions can diverge and create conflict. The major difference, as far I can tell, is information can be backed up with truths evident to anyone whereas a qualitative judgement along the lines of 'they are a great band' differs from individual to individual. Of course to be mindful of this difference requires a reasonable and rational thinker, a type of person I hope is common but still can't rely on.
 |
| NOPE |
3. Wouldn't life be boring if our language was littered with arbitrary '
in my opinion' and '
the way I see it'? We eliminate such extraneous phrases from our conversation because we don't need them. I read a lot obviously for my degree, and a pleasing and easy reading piece of work sheds archaic ways and pairs down the fluff into a succinct and flowing work. Opinion comes across as such, because it is signposted by structure and use of evidence, not by a prefacing phrase.
 |
| HELL NO. |
Overall, it is stupid idea. Now what was that, a fact or an opinion?
Well said. The amount of times I've said "x is shit" and people have gone "in your opinion." Yes in my fucking opinion!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a useful qualifier, especially if you're uncertain. Obviously you shouldn't use it in an essay or an article, but in a less formal situation it serves to emphasize that it is only an opinion and you recognise that you could be wrong. It's a sort of linguistic modesty. Additionally, facts and opinions are not always as clear cut as you make out, in which case qualifying your statement can provide necessary clarity.
ReplyDeleteBesides, getting rid of all extraneous language in itself is boring. We'd end up with some sort of Orwellian newspeak.
Also I feel like I should point out that you've started your second point with 'I think' - possibly without realising. You've also used 'as far as I can tell' in the same paragraph which is essentially the same the thing.
Astute. Agree that cutting out all extaneous language is wrong, but my issue is that people try to force it when it is unnecessary formality. I concede 'I think' is probably close to what I'm trying to avoid, but 'as far as I can tell' is more about stating my lack of full awareness perhaps? Not sure.
ReplyDelete