Hellooo, helloooo, hellooooo! Hello! How in the world of wonders are you reader? Seems like four days ago since I last posted. Let’s see. Subtract a Monday, skip Tuesday, add two other weekdays, subtract half of Friday… Time and a half. Where the heck are my reading glasses? Never mind. Yup. It’s been four weekdays for sure! -Give or take a turkey.
Now that we’ve got that all handled, have I got a really hot topic for you to read! So turn up the air condition unit and grab a popsicle. I’m ready to type you up a loo loo! My keyboard is in the flat and on position. Time to type!
Opinion: An opinion is a personal belief, view, or judgment that is based on feelings, thoughts, or experiences rather than on absolute proof or hard facts. Anybody agree with this Google definition?
Let me pull off of the road, right quick. I’d like to go on the record for saying that, in my opinion, Google isn’t known for telling it like it ain’t. That’s just this blogger’s opinion. But if anyone has an opposite opinion about the Google definition, I just pasted into the previous paragraph, I’m very curious to read your opinion. But let’s get back to where I took an unscheduled left turn and got off the main subject.
Fact. A person’s opinion can be what triggers a verbal battle! Yup! For the sake of their opinion, I’ve seen people jump to their feet and powerfully defend their opinion like someone had just disrespected their family honor. -All because they felt that their opinion was not being respected or taken seriously.
I’m not saying that defending one’s opinion is a wrong thing, or anything like that. But when someone defending their opinion provokes an argument the size of a bowling alley…? Why does that have to happen? -Maybe because they are touchy about not having their opinion received with enthusiasm?
Let’s just walk to the observation area and take a good look at this Opinion critter for a minute. You’ll notice that this critter has personal feelings attached to it. When an Opinion wanders it’s way into a conversation, it says what it’s owner is thinking, based on how its owner feels about whatever is being discussed, negatively or positively. But watch out! Observe what might happen when an owner’s personal opinion gets labeled as plain old nonsense! ***Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have five minutes of heavy weight arguing. In this corner we have one person’s opinion. And in this corner, we have the other person’s opinion. Okay youse guys, I want a good clean fight. No snarky remarks, or loud talking. And in the event of any cursing or name calling…***
Please. I’m begging you. Don’t turn me in for letting my imagination turn the event of two clashing opinions into what sounds like a professional boxing event. But opinions have been known to turn into bar room rumbles. -Especially among some of the real serious sports fans out there.
Our opinions are a big deal to each of us. We are naturally protective of our opinions. Whether they are right or they’re wrong, they are ours, and not to be treated like a dumb idea. I see absolutely nothing wrong with having an opinion. But when our opinions get to the point where nobody’s opinion matters as much as our own, this is where the storm clouds gather and the thunder of disagreement begins to roar!
Having a conversation where opinions are based on feelings or personal experiences is fine. -But only as long as everyone remembers that no one’s opinion automatically becomes more important than anyone else’s. And that, once someone comes up with the proof of facts, the truth should be unanimously respected as the final word. At which point everyone in the conversation should put that particular opinion in their pocket for next time.
Hey. Here’s something to think about. Did you ever base your opinion on someone else’s opinion? That’s how a following gets started you know. What??? Yes, what. And this is how that works.
Somebody publicly important speaks out his or her opinion, based on what they feel is true or cool, and guess what??? Aww. Darn it. You heard this already. My bad. But I’ll just say this. Basing a personal opinion on someone else’s opinion can be like a blind person leading a blind person around in a shopping mall. I can’t tell you how important it is to know exactly where a person got their opinion before repeating their opinion as the truth. It could mean the difference between losing a bunch of money, and missing out on getting scammed.
Dealing with people that deal in facts or informed opinions is ideal. But when dealing with someone who is highly interested in their own opinions, they have got to be handled with patience and with good neighbor skills.
Remember, a person’s feelings are tied up in their opinions. If they deal mostly in opinion and not very much in facts, try to keep to keep the conversation friendly and respectful. Researching for facts may not be their thing. Relying more on what other people tell them is probably what they rely on the most. And when letting one of your own opinions wander into a conversation, please try to remember that your opinion may not fit in with how your fellow conversationalist thinks. But don’t worry. Be friendly, relax. Cause if you are friendly enough, they might come to respect you enough to consider your opinions with more thought as time goes by.
The art of conversation takes a little practice. It’s ultimately not about getting our opinions honored. But it is more about pleasantly sharing what you know, and learning a little bit from things the other people are willing to share with you.
As always, thanks for taking a peek. May God do something in your life to show you how just how close. B Y E