The "I Didn't Comment in Another Thread" Thread

[Ryujin]

When folks phrase things as statement of facts, they should not expect folks to respond as if it were a statement of opinion.

Sometimes people just need to read comments with a bit of a more generous attitude, instead of jumping to the conclusion that someone is stating what they think is an objective fact

 

[el-remmen]

If I say, "Pineapple Pizza is good, " I think the safe and smart thing to do is assume it is my opinion and it doesn't require push back or attempted diminishment as "just [my] opinion." I think it makes the person who does seem kind of defensive and dim.

If I say, "Pineapple Pizza causes cancer," I think it is fair to push back on that because it is stated as a statement of fact without room for that being an opinion. Heck, even if I say, "In my opinion, Pineapple Pizza causes cancer," I'd still deserve pushback because stating that it is an opinion does not obviate the factual aspect of the statement.

All that being said, Snarf's posts are good but might cause cancer.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

All that being said, Snarf's posts are good but might cause cancer.

Anything good does!

There is nothing worse than a person without a single redeeming vice.

 

[Umbran]

Sometimes people just need to read comments with a bit of a more generous attitude, instead of jumping to the conclusion that someone is stating what they think is an objective fact

Sorry, I don't think it is good communication practice to blame the audience when the fix on the authorial side is so minor.

Like, above. I could have said, "It is not good communication practice". But I said, "I don't think it is...," fully establishing this as my opinion with a small phrasing change.

We can go into some of the reasons why authors resist such, but some of them are not particularly complimentary. One of the most basic is, "I can't be arsed to pay that much attention to what I write." To which my response is that if that author cares so little, I don't see why the audience should care enough about the author to give the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Cadence]

I will not search through all of their old posts to find examples... I will not search through all of their old posts to find examples... (This would be easier if searching through all of their old posts to find examples didn't temporarily get me out of grading...)

 

[Ryujin]

If I say, "Pineapple Pizza is good, " I think the safe and smart thing to do is assume it is my opinion and it doesn't require push back or attempted diminishment as "just [my] opinion." I think it makes the person who does seem kind of defensive and dim.

If I say, "Pineapple Pizza causes cancer," I think it is fair to push back on that because it is stated as a statement of fact without room for that being an opinion. Heck, even if I say, "In my opinion, Pineapple Pizza causes cancer," I'd still deserve pushback because stating that it is an opinion does not obviate the factual aspect of the statement.

All that being said, Snarf's posts are good but might cause cancer.

More than once I've been called out for saying that "Pineapple Pizza is good", as if I think that I'm making some statement of universal truth. I shouldn't have to qualify it as being my opinion when it clearly is my opinion, even if it's also a universal truth

 

[el-remmen]

Funny, when I teach writing I tell students to get rid of qualifiers like "I think" unless absolutely necessary in favor of 1. a more confident tone in your writing, and 2. using more engaging qualifiers that brings your reader into the way you are thinking. So for example, instead of "I think pineapple pizza is good," something like, "It is important to consider that pineapple pizza is good, in order to. . ."

 

[el-remmen]

More than once I've been called out for saying that "Pineapple Pizza is good", as if I think that I'm making some statement of universal truth. I shouldn't have to qualify it as being my opinion when it clearly is my opinion, even if it's also a universal truth

You won't get an argument from me.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

You won't get an argument from me.

I know. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE!

 

[overgeeked]

No.

"The problem" is that as humans, we take a great many opportunities to neglect the welfare of others, and accept or create a great many excuses or apologia for doing so.

I was referring to the problem with presentism. But yes, you present another problem. One of many we face as humans. Weirdly, a whole lot seem to stem from a lack of empathy for our fellow travellers.