Yes, but only if it's so blatantly stupid as to be ridiculous. The guys above have already demonstrated examples.
Poll: Can an opinion be wrong?
- Thread starter Just Pman
- Start date
Recommended Videos
No, and most of the people saying yes aren't really talking about opinions.
This is an opinion: "Murder is wonderful!"
This is not an opinion: "Bacteria doesn't exist"
You can't prove whether murder is good or not, but you can prove that bacteria exists just by putting their eye against a microscope.
Sure, you could say that saying that bacteria doesn't exist is an opinion just to get defensive about it because they don't have anything to back their argument up, but it doesn't change anything. It's still technically a statement to be proven false.
This is an opinion: "Murder is wonderful!"
This is not an opinion: "Bacteria doesn't exist"
You can't prove whether murder is good or not, but you can prove that bacteria exists just by putting their eye against a microscope.
Sure, you could say that saying that bacteria doesn't exist is an opinion just to get defensive about it because they don't have anything to back their argument up, but it doesn't change anything. It's still technically a statement to be proven false.
Perhaps relatedly;
I recall several times in high school taking tests ( one in debate class, to illustrate this point ) where the subject is asked to differentiate between FACT and OPINION,
IIRC, you were presented with snippets of fact or opinion and asked to classify them...
what i do remember is that the great majority of people who took the test could NOT distinguish the two.
I recall several times in high school taking tests ( one in debate class, to illustrate this point ) where the subject is asked to differentiate between FACT and OPINION,
IIRC, you were presented with snippets of fact or opinion and asked to classify them...
what i do remember is that the great majority of people who took the test could NOT distinguish the two.
My understanding of an opinion is that a person is saying "This is what I think, regardless of its truth." It may or may not be supported by facts, but it is true that the opinion is what they think.
Please forgive my awkwardly worded sentences.
Please forgive my awkwardly worded sentences.
Yes in the nature of the opinion.
No in the pursuit of belief.
Or vice-versa, depending on the opinion.
Someone who believes slavery should still exist (as it existed in the 1600s and 1700s), for example, their opinion is wrong, but their pursuit of their own opinion because it is what they believe is technically correct.
No in the pursuit of belief.
Or vice-versa, depending on the opinion.
Someone who believes slavery should still exist (as it existed in the 1600s and 1700s), for example, their opinion is wrong, but their pursuit of their own opinion because it is what they believe is technically correct.
It can if you lie about it. You say you feel a certain way about a subject, not because you actually do, but because saying so might produce a favorable response, than that is a wrong opinion. It completely eliminates the point of an opinion turns it into a conversational manipulator.
This includes clinging desperately to a previously held opinion when the facts have long since convinced you otherwise (deep down), but you cling to it just to save face.
This includes clinging desperately to a previously held opinion when the facts have long since convinced you otherwise (deep down), but you cling to it just to save face.
Opinions can only be proven wrong when someones opinion is based on facts that aren't true. Your opinion is your own belief in something that you have formulated from what you know. But when someone comes forward with cold hard facts you will have to reavulate your opinion.
That's not an opinion, that's a falsity. There is a huge difference and a lot of people get those mixed up.Kortney said:
yes!
if your opinion goes against factorial evidence or even something that would severely hinder someone and claiming it a preferable advantage. it can be wrong
EX
it is my opinion that the moon is made of cheese. No it's not
it is my opinion you'll work harder if I cut off one of your arms. No you won't
if your opinion goes against factorial evidence or even something that would severely hinder someone and claiming it a preferable advantage. it can be wrong
EX
it is my opinion that the moon is made of cheese. No it's not
it is my opinion you'll work harder if I cut off one of your arms. No you won't
Alot of people have already said what I'm basically about to say. Generally, an opinon can't be wrong. It's someone's personal view on a particular subject afterall. But when someone's opinion on a particlar subject is somewhere along the lines of, oh say, "Boy, real shame that whole Jewsish genocide thing didn't really work out for the Nazis," I can't help but think that maybe that person's opinion isn't exactly the correct answer.
an opinion can be based on false information and can therefore be wrong. Otherwise, no (although all opinions could benefit from more knowledge on the subject matter, I'm not sure if that could ever not be true
That's not classified as an opinion. That's a statement with "My opinion" in front of it.Kortney said:
OP: No. No it can not be wrong.
As stated above, a statement can be wrong, but an opinion can not be wrong.
For example:
"I thought that Mass Effect sucked."
Is this wrong? Of course not, because it's an opinion.
Now, look at this:
"Mass Effect sucked"
Is this wrong? Yes. Yes it is. Because, despite the fact that I don't like Mass Effect, it is held in general consensus to be a good game, therefore, my statement is false.
See?
If its an opinion on a topic that can be proven one way or another then yes they can be wrong.
Other than that its very hard to say an opinion is wrong.
Other than that its very hard to say an opinion is wrong.