Posted by J on August 22, 2004 at 10:53:11:
(Topic on message board)'Everyone is entitled to an opinion.' Do you think that people who use this excuse when stating an opinion should then be expected to follow up with a logical defense of the opinion?
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What are your thoughts?
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Personally, I think it depends on the person making the statement, the context, and the spirit of the communication. If I asked a friend for thoughts on a particular situation, I might expect to explore the reasons for the opinion, especially if that friend shared a point of view that I had not especially considered. If I saw a comic making jokes on television, I might not read any deeper. Either way, if it were a matter of interest for me, I would take note of what was stated and add it to my collection of "mental research" on the subject.
J