Poll: Can opinions be wrong?

[Wordslinger]

Of course an opinion can be wrong. If someone said, "Oceans don't exist", that would be their opinion - and they would have every right to it - but that opinion would also be wrong.

 

[tehweave]

No. That's why its called an 'opinion.' This is what ONE person thinks. And even if 6 billion other people disagree, they're not wrong.

Was Hitler wrong? In my and everyone else's opinions, YES! In his opinion, no. He had a right to an opinion. (HE DID.) He was a lunatic and will pay for his crimes in hell (or whatever form of it actually exists) but his opinion wasn't wrong because HE believed it.

You are completely wrong in your opinion I'm afraid.

Right and wrong (or more accurately correct and incorrect) are an evaluation of fact, opinion is not fact although it may or may not be based on facts, therefore it is possible for an opinion to be either objectively right or objectively wrong, though it may be neither.

Unfortunately despite the fact that you have an opinion and are entirely allowed to have one, you I believe are wrong in this instance.

An opinion cannot be wrong if one person believes otherwise. It's about a person's own belief. You can't tell them they are wrong if they don't believe it. Even if someone said they don't believe in gravity. There is scientific fact that disproves their belief. Is their opinion wrong? No. They believe it. It's about the individual.

 

[quantumsoul]

Opinions aren't facts so I would say that they're always wrong. If an opinion is factual then its a fact and not an opinion.

 

[capin Rob]

Opinion's Can't be wrong, thats what the person thinks. If someone voices their opinion and calls it fact, then it could be wrong.

 

[Double A]

"In my opinion, the Holocaust is a load of Jewish propaganda and lies."

Yes, they can be wrong.

 

[jacobgr43]

opinions can be wrong some people think god exists others some people dont and they cant both be right

 

[Atmos Duality]

Opinions are usually based on facts, and if the facts are wrong, the opinion is.

Subjective vs Objective. Thank you sir for putting that out early.
That is fact, and why the "Nazi/Racist/hate" argument is usually flawed (however "correct" in practice it might be), because the reasoning behind it is seldom given.

Racism/hate crime stems from irrational thinking of some sort and almost always via committing the fallacy of gross generalization.

 

[Acting like a FOOL]

I believe that opinions can be wrong. Because opinions require to be based on some sort fact, and in order for an opinion to be any kind of respectable that fact it is supported by should be reliable. beyond being bound to facts and realities, you enter the realm of belief. Beliefs are persistent thoughts supported by the internal underpinnings of a persons motives and will.

 

[Rarhnor]

Wrong/Right opinion simulation:

Hitler is awesome. I like him.

 

[runnernda]

If "that's just my opinion" is a get-out-of-jail-free card, then "you're a fucking idiot; that's just my opinion" is what kicks them back in their cell and throws away the key.

 

[DarkhoIlow]

Opinion is a "double edged knife,it cuts both ways" and yes it can be wrong depending on the subject.

 

[SlowShootinPete]

This is something I often think about - especially when I'm on these forums - as it often results in debates becoming arguments

Arguing is not bad. In fact, debate and argument are essentially the same thing. I think the word you want is "bickering".

 

[Tddawg25]

No ones opinion is wrong factually but if it's an opinion that goes against your opinion it can be wrong in your mind so... yeah

 

[GrinningManiac]

An opinion cannot be wrong/invalid per say. It can, however, be misinformed, innappropriate, trolling or just plain dumb (not as in 'I think you're wrong' dumb, more like 'Chickens can't fly because Obama's a COMMIE' dumb)

 

[chozo_hybrid]

An opinion can be wrong if facts go against it, for example, if someone's opinion states 2 + 2 = 5 they are wrong, yeah I know dumb example. But otherwise, if it's when it comes to liking something or what ever, 90% of the time people can't be wrong opinion wise.

On a side note, did you know that 67% of percentage statements made to prove a point are made up on the spot?

 

[Life_Is_A_Mess]

An opinion is just an expression of an idea that is going through someone's mind.
The argument might be wrong, but the opinion isn't.

 

[Double A]

Oh I got another example.

"DRM protects consumer rights!"

 

[zHellas]

My opinion is that Aqua is the greatest band of all time, bar none.

That's wrong. Weezer or Cage the Elephant are the best bands ever.

When I was on Pandora Radio's Dethklok station, for some reason Cage the Elephant came on(good band, don't get me wrong).

OT: Of course opinions can be wrong.

 

[DanDeFool]

"Well that's just my opinion," seems to have become a get-out-of-jail-free-card for anyone from racists to the mythical beings that say they don't like Mafia (it's OK my friends, they're not real).

I'm assuming you mean "Mafia Wars"?

EDIT: This has come up quite a few times now, and I think that a far better word to use is "invalid" as opposed to "wrong".

This. It really depends on what you mean by "wrong", and in this case "invalid" would be the more applicable meaning. Saying "I think FarmVille is a stupid game" is a perfectly valid opinion, because what you are really saying is "I don't like FarmVille". Saying "In my opinion, aliens live on Mars" is invalid because it's not a matter of opinion whether something exists or not.

Similarly, saying "I think is the one true God" isn't really an opinion either. Or maybe it is an opinion because it relates to an interpretation of religions, sacred texts, and personal feelings, much like Roger Ebert's opinion that Video Games cannot be art. I guess you have to be careful how you define "opinion" as well.

EDIT: Whoops! I just realized this post could potentially be construed as a trolling attempt in its previous form. Hope this fix avoids causing a stir.