Poll: Can opinions be wrong?

[Fraught]

Well, opinions are wrong when they are biased towards facts.

Like religious people (onohedidn't)!

But when they're about something subjective (every type of media under the sun), then no, no opinions are wrong, and that's my opinion on the topic.

 

[Anticitizen_Two]

I would say that they could be if they're racist/sexist/heterosexist/discriminatory to any religion/belief system not based on discrimination.

 

[savandicus]

If they put 'I Think....' infront of any opinion then the opinion is always right because they're stating their thoughts unless ofcourse they are lying, then they would be wrong.

If they say 'Oranges taste bad because they are blue' would be a correct opinion followed by an incorrect fact, the statement in itself is wrong because oranges are orange but the fact that they taste bad is true for any given person who doesnt like oranges.

In short, can opinions be wrong? Yes, nearly every statement we say is either fact (2+2 = 4), a relative fact (such as oranges taste bad), an unconfirmed fact (There is a God) or wrong. A opinion is only correct when it is a fact, when its relative, or when its true but unconfirmed.

 

[Eversor01]

I think there is a definate truth behind all things, but human understanding usually can't answer it or doesn't like the answer it so we just let things slide. I'd say everyone has atleast once heard someone elses stupid opinion and wanted to slam it but let it slide cos it's just 'their opinion', so its more about avoiding conflict.

The other option though is the belief in subjective reality or reality through the eyes of the beholder (the centre one with the anti magic field)but that point of view has the inherent problem that the belief everything is subject is an objective stand point.

But non of this is to say people aren't entitled to their opinion, the more important thing than if someones opinion is wrong (because again, everyone will be wrong at some point) is not being a dick about correcting them (not to say don't correct them just try not to slam them unless they persist). This usually has the opposite to the desired effect

 

[Ravek]

Of course opinions can be wrong. In fact, it is my opinion that my opinion is wrong!

 

[I_LIKE_CAKE]

They can be dumb

 

[DTWolfwood]

nope. all opinions are correct to those that have them. whether they are fact or not is the question

 

[randomsix]

If an opinion is contrary to a fact, it is wrong.

 

[Shinigami214]

This is something I often think about - especially when I'm on these forums - as it often results in debates becoming arguments. And I'm guessing that most people's gut reaction to the question will be, "no, of course they can't."

"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). In some cases that's a perfectly valid response when talking about an opinion on something subjective (a film/game/book, etc.) but in other instances that doesn't work.

If I said I hate Australia because they invaded China, then my opinion is wrong; that never happened (at least, I don't think it did...) and so my opinion is based on a false fact which in turn makes my opinion wrong.

So to me, an opinion can easily be wrong - of course, that's just my opinion.

Does anyone agree or disagree?

My take on this is that an opinion can't be 'wrong' as such. It can be unfounded, however.

An unfounded opinion (i.e. an opinion based on either flawed reasoning or facts) is illogical, making it baseless as it is rooted in unstable 'thinking'.

 

[razormint21]

Opinions can only be wrong if it conflicts with morals and accepted notions.

Why should it be? Because forcing something overly repulsive to the common masses is trolling. IE /a/ or /v/.....

 

[almostnot]

My opinion is never wrong, because I tend to be heavily informed on any subject I write or talk about.

Unlike some idiots that just talk out of their ass and honestly think they know what they are talking about.

You're going for irony with this, yes? Tell me this is irony...

 

[Shinigami214]

Opinions themselves cannot be wrong.

They can however be based on incorrect arguments, misunderstandings, false assumptions, prejudice, hearsay, etc.

Also, many people use opinions in a wrong way, either by disguising misconceptions as opinions or stating opinions as facts. Which, coincidentally, is what a lot of people are doing in this thread.

Yes, but if they are based on incorrect arguments, doesn't that make the opinion wrong as well?

That's more a matter of interpretation, but I'd say that if you're basing an opinion on flawed arguments, then that opinion is perfectly valid given the arguments you're using. It's the arguments themselves that are wrong.

A simple example:
If I assume A=1 and B=2, then there's nothing wrong with saying A+B=3. If A was actually 3 and I made a mistake in assuming it was 1 then obviously A+B=3 is based on wrong information, but my train of thought is still correct in that 1+2 is indeed 3. The mistake at the beginning might invalidate my outcome, but it doesn't make the basic addition behind it wrong.

If I would say "I hate America because their president is Adolf Hitler" then my hate for America might still be very real, it's just based on nonsense.

Opinions themselves cannot be wrong.

Sure they can. If someone holds a view that there is evidence that aliens exist, their opinion is wrong. If someone decides that an object in the distance must be X miles away, and it's not, that opinion is wrong.

No, no. See, that's exactly the kind of misuse I'm talking about. "Object X is Y miles away" is not an opinion. Physical distance is a measurable fact, not an opinion. If you say your house is six miles away when it's actually four miles away, you're not having a 'wrong opinion', you're just getting your facts wrong. Just because you're stupidly trying to present a misconception as an opinion doesn't make it an actual opinion.

I replied, saying that opinions can't be wrong, only unfounded - and here you folks go and beat me to it, complete with in-depth discussion.

I feel slighted somehow

 

[almostnot]

nope. all opinions are correct to those that have them. whether they are fact or not is the question

Nail head you hit the on.

Re-arrange and collect your prize...

 

[Stillve]

In my opinion, any opinion that isn't my opinion is wrong.

This. It all boils down to this.

 

[almostnot]

Opinions themselves cannot be wrong.

They can however be based on incorrect arguments, misunderstandings, false assumptions, prejudice, hearsay, etc.

Also, many people use opinions in a wrong way, either by disguising misconceptions as opinions or stating opinions as facts. Which, coincidentally, is what a lot of people are doing in this thread.

Yes, but if they are based on incorrect arguments, doesn't that make the opinion wrong as well?

That's more a matter of interpretation, but I'd say that if you're basing an opinion on flawed arguments, then that opinion is perfectly valid given the arguments you're using. It's the arguments themselves that are wrong.

A simple example:
If I assume A=1 and B=2, then there's nothing wrong with saying A+B=3. If A was actually 3 and I made a mistake in assuming it was 1 then obviously A+B=3 is based on wrong information, but my train of thought is still correct in that 1+2 is indeed 3. The mistake at the beginning might invalidate my outcome, but it doesn't make the basic addition behind it wrong.

If I would say "I hate America because their president is Adolf Hitler" then my hate for America might still be very real, it's just based on nonsense.

Opinions themselves cannot be wrong.

Sure they can. If someone holds a view that there is evidence that aliens exist, their opinion is wrong. If someone decides that an object in the distance must be X miles away, and it's not, that opinion is wrong.

No, no. See, that's exactly the kind of misuse I'm talking about. "Object X is Y miles away" is not an opinion. Physical distance is a measurable fact, not an opinion. If you say your house is six miles away when it's actually four miles away, you're not having a 'wrong opinion', you're just getting your facts wrong. Just because you're stupidly trying to present a misconception as an opinion doesn't make it an actual opinion.

Couldn't have said it better myself. So I won't. But I'm with HDD.

 

[Counterwise]

Exhibit a: creationists and geocentrists. Case closed.

 

[Woodsey]

This is something I often think about - especially when I'm on these forums - as it often results in debates becoming arguments. And I'm guessing that most people's gut reaction to the question will be, "no, of course they can't."

"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). In some cases that's a perfectly valid response when talking about an opinion on something subjective (a film/game/book, etc.) but in other instances that doesn't work.

If I said I hate Australia because they invaded China, then my opinion is wrong; that never happened (at least, I don't think it did...) and so my opinion is based on a false fact which in turn makes my opinion wrong.

So to me, an opinion can easily be wrong - of course, that's just my opinion.

Does anyone agree or disagree?

My take on this is that an opinion can't be 'wrong' as such. It can be unfounded, however.

An unfounded opinion (i.e. an opinion based on either flawed reasoning or facts) is illogical, making it baseless as it is rooted in unstable 'thinking'.

I think you're right in that "wrong" isn't the right word exactly; perhaps "invalid" would be better.

 

[Eisenfaust]

surely this would depend entirely on your definition of wrong...

 

[crudus]

If I said I hate Australia because they invaded China, then my opinion is wrong; that never happened (at least, I don't think it did...) and so my opinion is based on a false fact which in turn makes my opinion wrong.

Your opinion about hating Australia still can't be wrong. The reasons for your hatred may be wrong and you may need to reevaluate your hatred, but your opinion still can't be wrong. You can still hate Australia for no reason. You will however be viewed as bigoted but that is a different matter entirely.