Opinions are Tricky

Opinions: we all have them, and most of us love to share them, but they can be a source of much grief. Our opinion writers, Dan and myself included, often go through quite a few hoops in our quest to find a topic for the week.

I have always asked friends for suggestions for my bi-weekly editorial. Often, they ask, "Why is this so hard? You just have to write your opinion." Valid question, but not one so easily answered. My struggle with opinion writing, which I believe is the struggle of much of the population, is the simple fact that it publicly announces one's stance on a certain subject; it can be a little terrifying.

My question is: Why do we have this fear? It lies in society's dwindling acceptance and appreciation for differing viewpoints. We all respond to opinions. We agree or disagree and we may argue, but the worst thing we do is sheepishly stay silent as others proclaim their position. I am as guilty as anyone in this department. It is often hard to defend an opinion in a topic about which we feel uneducated. The simple solution is to educate oneself in the subject matter.

This calls to mind an interesting quote from German satirist Georg Lichtenberg: "Don't judge a man by his opinions, but what his opinions have made of him." We have all fit into this box on numerous occasions. We are quick to conclude what we wish about another simply because of the small opinions they lace into everyday conversations. We throw aside opinions which clash with our own and deny their importance.

However, there is much to be learned from the viewpoints of others. I wonder how many of our opinions we truly cultivate. We inherited them from parents, friends, and colleagues as we grew, but now, as adults, we believe we can no longer grow from the opinions of others. This is a dangerous assumption to make. Many would contend that we constantly learn from others, but I conclude that many are so set in their ways that they take nothing from daily disagreements. We have much to learn from others. Our acceptance and consideration of opinions is invaluable to our further sophistication.

My editorials tend to end with some sort of call to action, so in following this trend, I invite you to consider the attitudes with which you handle the opinions of others. Are you using them as a learning tool? Understanding the other side of an argument is an ideal way to improve your own stance. So appreciate, accept, and learn from each and every opinion you encounter.

Jake