Opinion Equality

[liveyoungdiefast]

Many of us do it without realizing it. We tend to want to say "It's just my/his/her/their opinion" as if such a simple (and obvious) statement absolves the person of responsibility for it. I do not know what force on Earth spread this most awful logical fallacy that all opinions are equal, maybe it's a side effect of swine flu. Or actually much more likely it is a side effect of the ridiculous ideas of this generation indoctrinated into us. This mindset that one opinion can't be superior or inferior to the next. I assure you if the teens who believe this now are eventually the adults running the world, and the keep this idea as a guiding principle, then I am scared of what is about to happen to this world.

Now do we truly believe this? Surely not. It is the *opinion* of many people that demons exist and possess people. And it is the *opinion* of many other people that medical conditions in the brain from toxins, infections, and genetic problems can cause symptoms. Except one group is far more educated than the other group, or at least has taken the word of educated people. Now let's put the right words in - It is the delusion of many people that demons exist and possess people. And it is the knowledge by many other people that medical conditions in the brain from toxins, infections, and genetic problems can cause symptoms.

But keep in mind with my example, I am not attacking, say, a tribe in jungles of Asia that has shamans and believes in spirits. They are in the condition that they are in, they do not affect the wider world and do not need to be affected by it. Nor am I attacking those a millennium ago without knowledge. The specific group targeted is the group that lives in advanced civilization and refuses to accept very obvious truths. From my perspective in my country, the problem is with stupid Americans.

The opinion that homosexuality is clearly not a choice is superior to the the opinion that it is a choice, because the former is backed by science and the latter is backed by whining subjective morality. The opinion that there are no such things as FEMA internment camps (I'm looking at you, Illuminati paranoid conspiracists) is superior to the opinion that there are, because, well that's just a fucking stupid opinion to have, that is baseless and fueled by paranoia.

Why is stupidity no longer anathema? This world is so damn tolerant it is sickening, we respect any idiot who stands in front of a camera or types out their grammar deficient rants of pseudo-science and false history and insane conspiracy theories, and we give them respect for stating what they think?

L Ron Hubbard had an opinion that Xenu dropped dead aliens into volcanoes and that their souls now cling on to us. This opinion gave us another wonderful tax exempt religion that gets to swim in money as people can't even afford health care. Good thing we respect opinions.

Stupidity is anathema. Intelligence is virtue. Morality is only worth its rationality.

[Jacobim Mugatu]

You are incredibly correct. Ideas are not equal, and people are not equal. how can I ever be compared to greater men like Napoleon Bonaparte or Otto Von Bismark and be called equal. That is the problem with America and americans, most believe everything is equal, and therefore they will tolerate even the most stupid crap.

[Modus Operandi]

I agree with this. We need to have a better system of distinguishing sound opinions from sheer lunacy.

[INFERNO]

The opinion that homosexuality is clearly not a choice is superior to the the opinion that it is a choice, because the former is backed by science and the latter is backed by whining subjective morality.

Wrong. Both sides are backed up by scientific research.


Why is stupidity no longer anathema? This world is so damn tolerant it is sickening, we respect any idiot who stands in front of a camera or types out their grammar deficient rants of pseudo-science and false history and insane conspiracy theories, and we give them respect for stating what they think?

I agree, parts of the world are too tolerant even when those parts have sufficient or more than sufficient knowledge that says otherwise. However, other parts of the world, especially in universities, tend to have far less respect for moronic rants and other nonsense.

I see nothing wrong with stating what they think, in fact, I do give them respect for stating what they think even if I don't respect what it is that they're saying. When they stand up in a crowd and state their beliefs which tend to be frowned upon and belittled, I give respect to that because it shows that even if their ideas are complete and utter nonsense, they have a backbone to stand up with few or even nobody else supporting them. That is something many people would rather avoid doing.


L Ron Hubbard had an opinion that Xenu dropped dead aliens into volcanoes and that their souls now cling on to us. This opinion gave us another wonderful tax exempt religion that gets to swim in money as people can't even afford health care. Good thing we respect opinions.

I'll just summarize my opinions on this but I do think religious places should not be exempt from tax unless they are already helping the community by building shelters or similar acts. I don't consider "spreading the word" or giving a few pieces of scrap clothing or food out to be reasonable enough to be exempt from tax.

I agree with this. We need to have a better system of distinguishing sound opinions from sheer lunacy.

Each person should establish their own system. Generally it's fairly easy: just ask questions and see how logical and coherent the answers are. If the person tries to explain by just spitting various quotes at you, then even if their ideas is logical, they don't understand it.

Unfortunately, in order to distinguish opinions from nonsense, this requires a five-letter process that some people would rather avoid: THINK. I cannot for the life of me understand why people would accept something as correct or factual without asking questions regarding it when it's brand new to them. Even if one lives by the philosophy that all people are equal, that doesn't mean all ideas are equal. If someone adheres to the philosophy of all ideas are equal, well, either they're the world's biggest skeptic or they're the world's most gullable person.

[Modus Operandi]

Unfortunately, in order to distinguish opinions from nonsense, this requires a five-letter process that some people would rather avoid: THINK. I cannot for the life of me understand why people would accept something as correct or factual without asking questions regarding it when it's brand new to them. Even if one lives by the philosophy that all people are equal, that doesn't mean all ideas are equal. If someone adheres to the philosophy of all ideas are equal, well, either they're the world's biggest skeptic or they're the world's most gullable person.

This is what I mean.

[Sage]

One should not underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

[quartermaster]

One should not underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

Or the oppressive ability of an "enlightened few."

[mrmcdonaldduck]

liveyoungdiefast, this is one of the best threads by a junior member ever. and i agree with you that the world is too tolerant.

[Hyper]

I agree with this. We need to have a better system of distinguishing sound opinions from sheer lunacy.

There is a system already in place

It operates on two principles - personal viewpoints ( opinions or w/e you'd like to call them including morals, ethique ) & COMMON SENSE ( so rare that its a super power )

I kind of agree with the OP

But then again being tolerant isn't accepting something, being tolerant about something is keeping your mouth shot about something you hate xD