Pineapple Express: Someone Is Wrong on the Internet?

[overgeeked]

But again, some speakers don't seem to think not only that its just an opinion, but a matter of taste. That's abundantly clear from talking to them for more than an exchange or two. And that attitude absolutely deserves pushback.

What distinction are you trying to make between an opinion and taste here?

 

[Ryujin]

I'd buy that if the listener had as much control over the information as the speaker. They don't. Yes, the listener can misinterpret things, but they lack the ability to do clarification by themselves; the speaker doesn't.

I've reached the point now where if someone assumes that I'm trying to state an absolute rather than an opinion, when I'm not, I'm more likely to just walk away from that discussion entirely. Too many people assume bad faith, rather than honest discussion, and it's annoying.

 

[billd91]

Oh, good lord, no. I’m not opposed to the concept, but that is WAY too cumbersome to deal with.

 

[Umbran]

Every post is a personal opinion or experience, not a universal fact for all time. Insisting every post be prefaced with, “This is just my opinion…” is pointlessly redundant and tone policing.

So, with respect, you seem dreadfully unaware of two thigns:

1) Not everyone is actually considering their posts to be their personal opinion. There are actually a bunch of OneTrueWayists out there. If you don't want to differentiate yourself from them, that's your choice, but nobody else is obligated to do the work to figure out the difference.

2) How one phrases an argument or discussion point impacts not only how the audience receives it, but also how the author conducts their argument. There is a subtle, but real, psychological effect in which, once one puts a rhetorical stake in the ground, or line in the sand, they have an emotional need to defend that stand, even to the point of insults and lying.

 

[Thomas Shey]

What distinction are you trying to make between an opinion and taste here?

Taste doesn't expect other people to follow what you're suggesting. It just says you like it. Opinion is perfectly capable of saying other people should be doing it, too.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I've reached the point now where if someone assumes that I'm trying to state an absolute rather than an opinion, when I'm not, I'm more likely to just walk away from that discussion entirely. Too many people assume bad faith, rather than honest discussion, and it's annoying.

It doesn't require bad faith for someone to present something as something beyond personal taste. It can be absolutely sincere, and still be extending someone's expectations beyond what they want. I've seen any number of people present things in a fashion where they clearly, sincerely thought certain things were generally, even universally true that there was either no reason to think were, or where they were unable to defend the position; they just took it as a given.

That's not bad faith, but it also shouldn't be automatically just let pass. Sometimes its easier to believe its bad faith, but its not automatically the case.

 

[Bedrockgames]

It doesn't require bad faith for someone to present something as something beyond personal taste. It can be absolutely sincere, and still be extending someone's expectations beyond what they want. I've seen any number of people present things in a fashion where they clearly, sincerely thought certain things were generally, even universally true that there was either no reason to think were, or where they were unable to defend the position; they just took it as a given.

That's not bad faith, but it also shouldn't be automatically just let pass. Sometimes its easier to believe its bad faith, but its not automatically the case.

Sometimes the cosmos simply insists upon an opinion

 

[Mad_Jack]

Sometimes the cosmos simply insists upon an opinion

Then, yes, its butt does look fat in that dress....

 

[Mad_Jack]

Okay, wth? Latest Edge update today has suddenly greyed out the options to open things on my favorites list in new tabs and windows when I right-click on them. I have to hit ctrl and left-click to open them in new tabs now.
This vexes me. I am sorely vexed.

 

[MichaelSomething]

once one puts a rhetorical stake in the ground, or line in the sand, they have an emotional need to defend that stand, even to the point of insults and lying.

I won't rest until the commoner cast returns to D&D!