Facts vs. Opinons

[Moonbeam]

Do you actually believe that crap?

He is in fact one of the known idiots who post here so my opinion is that he does.

 

[Moonbeam]

With the facts he presents, I'm of the the opinion that he actually does.

Having read your post, I now am sure that what I had at first thought was an opinion is in fact a fact. There is no doubt but that he believes it.

 

[Moonbeam]

The reasons folk confuse fact with opinion can only be explained to the core by the following facts.

As children we were taught that who we really are is worthless and that unless we conformed to this or that behavior we would not be loved. So we abandoned who we really are to become machines that think in the prescribed way. We adopted a false persona, the ego, who is the greatest in everything, he or she who has it all down pat and knows what is right. To change our opinion now would be to become worthless again and that's not going to happen. We would prefer to destroy the world rather than change. You can see it happening all around you.

 

[monovillage]

From wiki about Daniel Patrick Moynihan:
"Attributed

* Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
o Variant: Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts.
+ Quoted in Robert Sobel's review of Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies edited by Mark C. Carnes.
o Variant: You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
+ Quoted in Timothy J. Penny, Facts Are Facts, National Review September 4, 2003.
o Variant: You’re entitled to your own opinions. You’re not entitled to your own facts.
+ Ellen Hume, Tabloids, Talk Radio and the Future of News, part 4 (TOC), 1995 cites this as something Moynihan said to a "1994 electoral opponent on WNBC in New York".

Here's another quote from wiki
"Scientific facts are generally believed to be independent of the observer: no matter who performs a scientific experiment, all observers will agree on the outcome.

You can argue some sociological, philosophical, historical or political "facts" all day long, but if you can't apply the scientific method to them and prove them, they remain opinions. That's my opinion of course.

 

[dmcowen674]

The reasons folk confuse fact with opinion can only be explained to the core by the following facts.

We adopted a false persona, the ego, who is the greatest in everything, he or she who has it all down pat and knows what is right.

Forbidden Planet

 

[Moonbeam]

Forbidden Planet

Indeed.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Indeed.

Or Plato's Cave if you will.

We always bring perceptual bias to the party, but whether it's something we embrace or are wary of determines much of how we interpret the world.

 

[Moonbeam]

Or Plato's Cave if you will.

We always bring perceptual bias to the party, but whether it's something we embrace or are wary of determines much of how we interpret the world.

I think for thousands of years some people have broken through some sort of blindness that affects the vast majority of people and it is from them we get this message of a world we perceive only in shadow. We have always had our mystics and Mysteries. And we have always had the nagging sense that things aren't quite right, that we are missing something.

 

[Jhhnn]

I think for thousands of years some people have broken through some sort of blindness that affects the vast majority of people and it is from them we get this message of a world we perceive only in shadow. We have always had our mystics and Mysteries. And we have always had the nagging sense that things aren't quite right, that we are missing something.

Not if you believe, Moonbeam, not if you believe in the faith based initiatives of the republican party. You'll be able to achieve absolute certainty in whatever they tell you. Ask the true believers on this forum.

 

[classy]

Facts are stronger. But facts are not always the truth. Thats the problem with opinions. Most opinions are based on facts, but most people choose selective facts.

 

[werepossum]

Facts are stronger. But facts are not always the truth. Thats the problem with opinions. Most opinions are based on facts, but most people choose selective facts.

I agree, facts are stronger. You cannot successfully design buildings based on your opinion of the strength of steel.

And in most issues, both sides are entitled to their own facts. Contrary to what our friends on the left feel, most issues are sufficiently complicated and gray that facts support both sides. The tricks are two: to weigh the facts on both sides without prejudice, and to recognize that different facts have different value to different people.

 

[jonks]

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. - Sen. Pat Moynihan (or was it?)

 

[PingSpike]

Facts are bound by reality and reason. Opinions are not hobbled by these limitations. However, they are both bested by the Opinofact which combines both their strengths and allows bullshit to gain the creditability of a fact while being backed up by the unyielding ignorance of an opinion.

 

[werepossum]

Facts are bound by reality and reason. Opinions are not hobbled by these limitations. However, they are both bested by the Opinofact which combines both their strengths and allows bullshit to gain the creditability of a fact while being backed up by the unyielding ignorance of an opinion.

+1

 

[skyking]

Opinions and theories are often neat and tidy, with no contradictions or loose ends.
Facts, on the other hand, are often contradictory. Facts can be a serious PITA!

 

[Jaskalas]

Opinions and theories are often neat and tidy, with no contradictions or loose ends.
Facts, on the other hand, are often contradictory. Facts can be a serious PITA!

What about settled facts?

 

[jonks]

Facts are bound by reality and reason. Opinions are not hobbled by these limitations. However, they are both bested by the Opinofact which combines both their strengths and allows bullshit to gain the creditability of a fact while being backed up by the unyielding ignorance of an opinion.

Palin strikes?

 

[Macamus Prime]

Some people present their opinions as facts. Some people present facts (of life) to support their opinions.

In terms of strength; opinions as facts. There is a group of people who use fear to control the masses. Their own fear of something or someone drives them to lie, cheat and harm their fellow man, woman and child.

 

[skyking]

What about settled facts?

I'm speaking of when you get your theory going, getting it all 'sciency' and you reach out a bit and project your opinionfact into some other unsupported area and this other pesky fact comes along and just ruins it all.