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Opinions on the Opiniated

China Rider

Bluelighter
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Messages
11,451
Does this kind of stuff bother anybody else?

I'm a very opinionated person, I was born with the trait(got it from my dad) and then maximized my opinion drawing ability though spending lots of time in isolation during my college years. I've come to learn that most people react to options, judgments or observations.

Now keep inn mind that I LOVE hearing other's opinions and competing in some little cross-fire rebuttling At at the same time many opinions should be kept quiet.

Sometimes during conversations people will cut me off and say something along the lines of "I don't want to argue about it' It can be very frustrating. Maybe it's my tone? Well if it is, i'm not going to alter it, i'm a fucking man, not a boy scout. My biggest concern is having these types of conversions professional. Once you get labeled a know-it-all, it sticks, and usually people will ignore you or refuse take your opinions seriously(Ignorant assholes :d:

I define an argument as two or more conflicting parties involving a specific issue. Most times it's impossible to convince either party that they are wrong. And in valid arguments, after a few hours of pushing and shoving, there's always HAS to be a 'right' answer or conclusion.

To me, sharing opinions is harmlessly expressing what you believe, interpret, or feel about any specific topic. 20 minutes later when the opinion swapping session ends, both sides usually agree to disagree, refrain from developing a grudge and more often than not are enlightened, one party might completely change their opinion,or start from scratch, explore, and challenge their fresh cognitional dimensional that was once hidden within their brains. Fresh knowledge and heightened awareness, when correctly utilized, can be mind blowing

Anyone else have this problem? Do some people consider you a 'know it all? or 'Complainer'' I do. Sometimes I wish I was an air head lol
I do sometimes get caught up in arguments and hate it, even more so after I win...because, IME people either take it personally get really angry because they hate being wrong..... and usually carry a huge load of tension on their back, that can last a life time...losers

I thought I was going to get stabbed at the bar last night because this guy was trying to convince me a glass of light beer will equally raise my BAL compared to drinking a bottle of a 7% IPA.....I honestly don't think this guy even knew what blood alcohol meant lol

Personally, if I am proven wrong I LOVE it, have no problem admitting I was wrong and will usually thank the person who filled me in on something new!

Seriously, why are people so uptight when they are wrong... are an egomaniac ?Feel embarrassed? (Only valid excuse imo)

I will never seal my vault of knowledge and information outside into this ravenous mind! It's fun looking back how you thought ten years ago i'm pretty fucking excited to go through unpredictable brain change!!



Any opinions? Antone NEVER share their opinions? Why not?
Anyone want to argue about it?

On a side note, doesn't it suck when you've believed something to be true for like 10 years, than one day you find out that your brain had been storing false information for all those years
 
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I have many opinions, but rarely share them, even with close friends and family. My philosophy (or opinion, as it were) is that most opinions can be boiled down to a bland "I just got this feeling, you know?", and hence that most of them are not worth talking about, not even my own. Watch people shouting over an opinion, replace their topic with "Neapolitan is way better than French vanilla!", and one will come to a inkling of my POV on opinions. I think it's ridiculous that that opinions of some wingnut in Austin or D.C. can affect the lives of millions, but they'd think the same about mine, so I think I can stoically accept a zero-sum game.
 
The thing that frustrates me the most is when someone says "thats my opinion" and then refuses to back it up with an argument, or discuss it at all, and expect it to still be as valid as someone who has thought about the issue and is ready to defend their stance.
 
Sounds to me like you may be coming off as confrontational. It's fine to share your opinions and have conversations as a means of exchanging ideas, but doing so in an aggressive fashion tends to turn some people off, especially the more timid ones.

Also, there are people who cannot differentiate nor separate themselves from their opinions. For example, I think onions are gross but this does not define me as a person. But if I told someone who loves onions they are akin to licking the devil's asshole, they might take it personally and flip out because they see my negative opinion of onions as a personal attack on their character.

Anyways, long story short: not everyone enjoys a healthy debate and you're better off verbally sparring but with a select few.
 
When I was around 17 or 18 I guess you could say I had a bit of a know-it-all mentality. Although to me it was more along the lines of being equal with those around me by usually adding my two cents to whatever was being talked about. I did it to be a part of the conversation as well as to show my knowledge on a certain subject, especially if it was something I felt strongly about.

Since then after having many people give me the general "i don't care" attitude, and obviously not listening to what I was saying, I started to just shut up. As a kid we all like to think we know everything, so I think thats where a lot of it came from, and it didn't help that I was smart. So it usually ended up me completely disproving a lot of the adherent bullshit my friends were coming up with, which they didn't take too kindly to. But that doesnt mean we stopped being friends. Someone who's going to decide they don't like you because your smarter than them or can hold a conversation is worthless in my book. Why should I even give a shit about them if they're so quick to judge.

I'm always called very opinionated, aggressive as well as having a lackadaisical attitude about alot things. And when I hear that I just laugh. Usually when someone gets upset or dislikes me for voicing my opinion or arguing a topic with them they tend to be insecure, with brains filled with a lot of nothing. A person who can appreciate an educated conversation on something is usually someone who's educated. They can understand that a debate or a difference of opinion doesn't mean that person is attacking them or coming off as an asshole.

I've learned that most people just don't wanna hear what you have to think on a subject, so I just keep my mouth shut. I've had many trials and tribulations to kinda find a happy medium with the whole thing, and a majority of the time, I'll say one thing on the subject, and depending on the persons response I can usually measure whether I can actually debate/converse with them or whether it's just gonna be a waste of my time. Sometimes it just gets to a point where someone has to drop it, whether right or wrong, it's just not worth the energy (which I've done many times)

Throughout life, your gonna come in contact with A LOT of people who will be threatened by this. A few months ago I actually got kicked out of an accounting class because the teacher couldn't handle a student having an objective view about the things he was telling us, and then proceeded to fabricate a whole scenario as to why my behavior was unfit for class (which I fought and won)

I don't think it's something you should be ashamed of at all, it's just something that needs a little fine tuning, although my opinion is a little biased. It's important you know how to be opinionated without coming off as arrogant or stubborn. A lot of the time that can be achieved by your choice of words and tone. TBH I've had a lot of people come up to me afterwards to tell me they agreed with a lot of what I was saying, but they didn't have the balls to say it themselves. That right there justifies that most people are really passive about a lot of things, and that they do appreciate someone who can confidently say what they think about something. Most people would rather just be neutral and stay out of it because they're scared of the slightest bit of confrontation.

I've never had a real problem making friends due to my aggressiveness, although there have been some people who have been a bit put off by me at first because I came off as intimidating. But the ones who get to know me come to realize I'm a completely friendly and reasonable person, and I'd rather be surrounding myself with those types of people anyway. OP just like you, I get a lot of my personality from my father, and your right, we are men, and real men can take a little ego crushing and real talk here and there. If not they're pussies. You'd probably like Bill Maher, if you haven't heard of him you should check out some of his stuff (Religulous). Feel free to PM me anytime to talk about it more if you like since I don't wanna add any more to this novel. (as you can tell I feel pretty strong on the subject)
 
When I was around 17 or 18 I guess you could say I had a bit of a know-it-all mentality.

Interesting. I was just thinking the other day how funny it is that I thought I was so special and smart when I was 17. But now I think I have a more realistic perception of myself (at 23). I've realised that many people are smarter than I thought or ever gave them credit for.

I'm sure my perception will continue to change in the future as well.
 
I don't really believe in opinions.. I mean, I do, but the word, "opinion" often becomes a cop-out for having a point of view that is flimsy or unsubstantial. When someone says, "Well everyone is entitled to an opinion" it sounds to me like they're saying that a viewpoint based on a fortune cookie, is somehow equally as valid as a viewpoint based on factual observation.. all because it's an opinion.

So that being said, I don't think that all points of view are created equal. If someone is "opinionated" then they had better be able to back it up either with solid reasoning, or an appeal to some authority on the subject. If they can do that, then I won't be bothered at all.. even if I don't agree with them initially.
 
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I don't really believe in opinions..

More or less the same here.

Then again im extremely passive, i've been around people who have been able to peacefully have a "conversation" about a topic and discuss each other's views.. where the intention is "sharing" wisdom or knowledge from personal experience.

But with my own experience of people who are strongly opinionated they often let there passion for the topic bleed through distorting genuine discussion with an egoic perspective, and it's no longer about sharing thoughts but a personal battle for superiority in knowledge. I'm not saying every opinionated person is like this, my ex-housemate was extremely opinionated but maintained a sense of calmness and integrity when discussing issues.

It's funny though, opinionated people often get frustrated with those who refuse to engage in debate or discussion and those that refuse quickly tire of people with strong opinions, balance keeps the world sane =D
 
Sounds to me like you may be coming off as confrontational. It's fine to share your opinions and have conversations as a means of exchanging ideas, but doing so in an aggressive fashion tends to turn some people off, especially the more timid ones.

Also, there are people who cannot differentiate nor separate themselves from their opinions. For example, I think onions are gross but this does not define me as a person. But if I told someone who loves onions they are akin to licking the devil's asshole, they might take it personally and flip out because they see my negative opinion of onions as a personal attack on their character.

Anyways, long story short: not everyone enjoys a healthy debate and you're better off verbally sparring but with a select few.
Beautifully put! What a fantastic post, I want to frame this. :)

Max Power has pretty much summed up my response right there.

I don't enjoy verbally "sparring" with people who (I perceive) are too emotionally involved in the transaction.
 
Maybe it's my tone? Well if it is, i'm not going to alter it, i'm a fucking man, not a boy scout.
Once you get labeled a know-it-all, it sticks, and usually people will ignore you or refuse take your opinions seriously(Ignorant assholes :d:
I do sometimes get caught up in arguments and hate it, even more so after I win...because, IME people either take it personally get really angry because they hate being wrong..... and usually carry a huge load of tension on their back, that can last a life time...losers
You sound hostile.

Expressing an opinion is one thing. Having an argument is another. Influencing a person is another entirely - one that requires you to modify your delivery and allow someone a method of graceful retreat.

Verbally beating someone over the head only pisses people off.
I thought I was going to get stabbed at the bar last night...
:)
 
Interesting. I was just thinking the other day how funny it is that I thought I was so special and smart when I was 17. But now I think I have a more realistic perception of myself (at 23). I've realised that many people are smarter than I thought or ever gave them credit for.

I'm sure my perception will continue to change in the future as well.

Probably the most honest and intelligent thing I've ever read on BL.
 
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