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Casual Articles - Stupid Opinion #2: that All Opinione are Equal - and, of course, we are not to Judge
So you’ve decided you want to invent or produce a new product. Product creation has become much easier thanks to the internet. Here are 8 key ways to making more profit with product creation.Key 1: The Idea Step Make sure it’s an idea that will work Listen to others about things that would make their lives easier, then make those things.Key 2: Ask Questions Product creation is more than making things--it’s making things that people want. Talk to them to see if they would use the product before you sink time and money into it.Key 3: Research You will need to find out first if it has been done yet. Don’t do something someone else has already done well.Key 4: More Research Before you manufacture it, you will need to make a prototype. This comes in several steps of creation, testing, fixing, recreation, testing, etc.Key 5: Get People to Try It Once you have the prototype done, get friends and relatives to try it out. If you have the money, use a focus group.Key 6: Make Changes If there were any objections to your product creation, make the necessary changes and make a new prototype.Key 7: Retest Recreate and retest until you have a perfect model for manufacturing.
What are you saying, I want to ask.
One, how can you believe any of your opinions are right or wrong, if the opposite opinion is equally right or wrong?
Two, if all opinions are equal, it follows that the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal. Yes equals no.
Three, if all opinions are equal, then why should not all behaviors be equal in value? Why should any behavior be truly worse than another? Isn't it just a matter of opinion that murder, say, is less good than playing cards?
Four, if all opinions are equal, why are people encouraged to get a second opinion when faced with a major illness (or even major car trouble). It only makes sense to go for more than one opinion if some opinions are better (have a better chance, if followed, of leading to health or to a lower car repair bill) than others.
Five, if all opinions are equal, why are we bothering with research, with getting more facts, finding better ways of doing things (including more effective ways of reaching students). I
In today’s constantly changing job market more and more well educated people with a wealth of experience are being laid off. Many of them try to find other jobs but with little or no success. Because of this many people are deciding to parlay their experience and know-how into a small consulting practice.It sounds, easy, fun and exciting. You would be your own boss, making all the decisions. You would go wherever you wanted, whenever you choose. You would pick your clients and get paid handsomely for your expertise and interpersonal skills.But being an independent business consultant is more than just being a well-paid business advisor. You must also be an entrepreneur. You have to know how to manage a business, keeping control over the detailed administrative support systems that run your office, such as accounting and personnel. You also have to know how to market your experience and write winning project proposals, because if you don’t sell, you don’t survive.A consultant is also a project leader. You have to know how to plan, lead, and implement complex projects, and often several at the same time. You have to manage fee structures, deadline pressures, and client expectations. You have to know how to respond to conflict
But what about the quality of people of all races, of women and men, I asked, thinking that for sure they would agree. And they did - but were adamant that it was just a matter of opinion. So there I stood in front of the class, with black students agreeing that they too believed, like me, that all races were equal, but they were at the same time absolutely sure it was just a belief, an opinion. And women students likewise held that, like me, they believed in the equality of women and men, but unlike me, they were convinced it was just an opinion, and all opinions were equal.
But what about slavery, I asked, wasn't that wrong?
Opinion. Just an opinion. Of course they were against slavery, but it was just an opinion.
****
I tried logic. If all opinions were equal, then things would be both true and not true. So women would be both equal to men, and not equal to men. Slavery would be both right and wrong. Beating children would be both right and wrong. That was the same as saying two and two equaled four, and did not equal four. A contradiction.
Forget it. Contradictions were irrelevant - or worse. Students looked at me as if I was mad to say that if things contradicted themselves, they could not both be true. What mattered was not attacking the sacred cow (and equally, I would hold, unsacred cow) of THE ABSOLUTE EQUALITY OF ALL OPINONS.
I was stunned, as stunned as if I had suddenly found myself in a society which looked exactly like mine, but where people believed parents had the right to kill babies at birth.
****
Who are we to judge what is right and wrong, they held. It's all a matter of opinion - and then ANOTHER SACRED COW: everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Okay, I said (though I am not quite convinced of that).
But, I continued, that does not mean that the opinions themselves have equal value. So you may be entitled to hold the opinion that you may beat your newborn to death, or (a more common opinion) that you may beat your teenage daughter to death if she is seen with a boy, but that opinion leads to action - and the opinion is not as valid as the opinion (based on inherent human rights to self determination) that as we grow up, we increasingly have the right to make our own life choices, as long as these do not harm others.
Here a few of my students went into shock. You could hold any opinion you wanted. After all, all opinions were equal.
Plus, more shock, what was I saying? That opinions connected with action?? That made no sense to them. Opinions were just opinions. It was just something you believed and (going back to a favorite mantra) ALL OPINONS WERE EQUAL.
****
How could opinions be separated from action, I countered. Of course they connected with action. Do you think Hitler had a high opinion of Jews, and yet set up concentration camps to kill them? Or do you think (as the record shows) that he had a very negative opinion of them, and that this opinion came long before the concentration camps. In other words, the opinions fueled his behavior.
Over and over, I said, you can see how opinions lead to action. The people who acted for equal rights of people of all races BELIEVED in the equality of people of all races. Likewise people who acted for women's rights, the rights of gays and lesbians, children's rights, animal rights.
Aha, they went en masse. See, it's just a matter of belief.
Is it, I asked. Can we not show that people of different races have equal value, that women and men, people with differing sexual orientations, children and adults, have equal right to life and to develop their capacities?
No. Absolutely not. It was just a matter of opinion. And therefore (over and over again), while they might share my opinion that men and women were equal, they were absolutely totally against my opinion that my opinion was not just a matter of opinion.
****
I could not even get them to see that my opinion (that all opinions are not equal) was as good as theirs (that all opinions are equal). But it had to be, I said. Because if all opinions are equal, then the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal (yet another bit of evidence that their opinion made no sense, that their opinion held that two things were equally true, when only one could be true).
****
What is going on here, I ask.
To some extent I know. For a long time, many people held opinions not backed the evidence - on racial inequality, on the right of people to enslave other people, on the right of one sex to dominate over another, on the right of people to declare another religion wrong, on the right of people to take land away from other people. So Christians were sure that their religion was the right one, etc.
Good that we stop holding those opinions.
Easy to go to the other extreme - once again not backed by evidence - that no opinion is better than another.
****
In a way, there has been a lack of change. Many unfounded opinions used to be widely held. Now the equally unfounded opinion that all opinions are equal is widely held (except by the most traditional students, who often are adamant about opinions founded on belief, not on evidence - especially relating to gays and lesbians, male-female equality, sex outside marriage).
To ask for evidence asks a lot more of people. It asks them to think, and to think logically. It asks them to go out and back their opinion, to found it on as much information as possible. It asks them to figure out which source is reliable and can be used as evidence, and to what extent. A quick rote answer is not enough.
****
A question I am left with is: what has happened in the local education system (Montreal, Quebec, Canada - but it is highly likely that the phenomenon is more widespread than that) that students come out of high school with the opinion that all opinions are equal - and at the same time they hold many opinions where they are convinced they are right (abortion is a woman's right or it is not; the government is wrong or right is all kinds of ways, especially here in Quebec around language; gay marriage is right or wrong).
What are you saying, I want to ask.
One, how can you believe any of your opinions are right or wrong, if the opposite opinion is equally right or wrong?
Two, if all opinions are equal, it follows that the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal. Yes equals no.
Three, if all opinions are equal, then why should not all behaviors be equal in value? Why should any behavior be truly worse than another? Isn't it just a matter of opinion that murder, say, is less good than playing cards?
Four, if all opinions are equal, why are people encouraged to get a second opinion when faced with a major illness (or even major car trouble). It only makes sense to go for more than one opinion if some opinions are better (have a better chance, if followed, of leading to health or to a lower car repair bill) than others.
Five, if all opinions are equal, why are we bothering with research, with getting more facts, finding better ways of doing things (including more effective ways of reaching students). In
Are you thinking about starting your own cleaning business? Running your own business offers many rewards and gives you the freedom of being your own boss. You can also achieve great personal satisfaction from starting with a just few cleaning clients and building a successful and thriving business. Starting a new business is demanding on your time, family and finances. So before getting too far into the process of setting up your new cleaning business, it's important to take an objective look at yourself and see if you have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur.Answering the following questions will help you discover your entrepreneurial strengths and weaknesses:1. Do you have a positive attitude about yourself and your abilities? You're going to run up against competition, tough to sell clients and many other obstacles. A business owner needs to be able to have a strong positive attitude and a thick skin to make it through rough times.2. Are you a leader? Your employees, customers and even suppliers will be relying on your strong leadership abilities.3. Do you like to make your own decisions? Decisions can be tough to make and at times they'll have to be made quickly.4. Are you a self-starter? Re
I was stunned, as stunned as if I had suddenly found myself in a society which looked exactly like mine, but where people believed parents had the right to kill babies at birth.
****
Who are we to judge what is right and wrong, they held. It's all a matter of opinion - and then ANOTHER SACRED COW: everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Okay, I said (though I am not quite convinced of that).
But, I continued, that does not mean that the opinions themselves have equal value. So you may be entitled to hold the opinion that you may beat your newborn to death, or (a more common opinion) that you may beat your teenage daughter to death if she is seen with a boy, but that opinion leads to action - and the opinion is not as valid as the opinion (based on inherent human rights to self determination) that as we grow up, we increasingly have the right to make our own life choices, as long as these do not harm others.
Here a few of my students went into shock. You could hold any opinion you wanted. After all, all opinions were equal.
Plus, more shock, what was I saying? That opinions connected with action?? That made no sense to them. Opinions were just opinions. It was just something you believed and (going back to a favorite mantra) ALL OPINONS WERE EQUAL.
****
How could opinions be separated from action, I countered. Of course they connected with action. Do you think Hitler had a high opinion of Jews, and yet set up concentration camps to kill them? Or do you think (as the record shows) that he had a very negative opinion of them, and that this opinion came long before the concentration camps. In other words, the opinions fueled his behavior.
Over and over, I said, you can see how opinions lead to action. The people who acted for equal rights of people of all races BELIEVED in the equality of people of all races. Likewise people who acted for women's rights, the rights of gays and lesbians, children's rights, animal rights.
Aha, they went en masse. See, it's just a matter of belief.
Is it, I asked. Can we not show that people of different races have equal value, that women and men, people with differing sexual orientations, children and adults, have equal right to life and to develop their capacities?
No. Absolutely not. It was just a matter of opinion. And therefore (over and over again), while they might share my opinion that men and women were equal, they were absolutely totally against my opinion that my opinion was not just a matter of opinion.
****
I could not even get them to see that my opinion (that all opinions are not equal) was as good as theirs (that all opinions are equal). But it had to be, I said. Because if all opinions are equal, then the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal (yet another bit of evidence that their opinion made no sense, that their opinion held that two things were equally true, when only one could be true).
****
What is going on here, I ask.
To some extent I know. For a long time, many people held opinions not backed the evidence - on racial inequality, on the right of people to enslave other people, on the right of one sex to dominate over another, on the right of people to declare another religion wrong, on the right of people to take land away from other people. So Christians were sure that their religion was the right one, etc.
Good that we stop holding those opinions.
Easy to go to the other extreme - once again not backed by evidence - that no opinion is better than another.
****
In a way, there has been a lack of change. Many unfounded opinions used to be widely held. Now the equally unfounded opinion that all opinions are equal is widely held (except by the most traditional students, who often are adamant about opinions founded on belief, not on evidence - especially relating to gays and lesbians, male-female equality, sex outside marriage).
To ask for evidence asks a lot more of people. It asks them to think, and to think logically. It asks them to go out and back their opinion, to found it on as much information as possible. It asks them to figure out which source is reliable and can be used as evidence, and to what extent. A quick rote answer is not enough.
****
A question I am left with is: what has happened in the local education system (Montreal, Quebec, Canada - but it is highly likely that the phenomenon is more widespread than that) that students come out of high school with the opinion that all opinions are equal - and at the same time they hold many opinions where they are convinced they are right (abortion is a woman's right or it is not; the government is wrong or right is all kinds of ways, especially here in Quebec around language; gay marriage is right or wrong).
What are you saying, I want to ask.
One, how can you believe any of your opinions are right or wrong, if the opposite opinion is equally right or wrong?
Two, if all opinions are equal, it follows that the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal. Yes equals no.
Three, if all opinions are equal, then why should not all behaviors be equal in value? Why should any behavior be truly worse than another? Isn't it just a matter of opinion that murder, say, is less good than playing cards?
Four, if all opinions are equal, why are people encouraged to get a second opinion when faced with a major illness (or even major car trouble). It only makes sense to go for more than one opinion if some opinions are better (have a better chance, if followed, of leading to health or to a lower car repair bill) than others.
Five, if all opinions are equal, why are we bothering with research, with getting more facts, finding better ways of doing things (including more effective ways of reaching students). I
The internet first began as a way of relaying information between different computer networks. Today, more and more people are using the internet to do their shopping as well as information gathering. Although online shopping is steadily increasing, search engines still value the internet as an information source- placing higher value on sites that offer informative, useful content. Therefore, having relevant information on your site’s homepage (related to your specific product line or services) will help your overall search engine optimization efforts.Your Site from A to Z. In order to create relevant content for your website, gather information about all aspects of your particular industry. Think about your site’s product line from the minor basics, down to more involved information. What would your typical patron want information on? And what do you know that the everyday customer may not? Search the web for all information related to your product line and use that along with your own knowledge to create fresh and unique, original content.Summarize, and then Expand. Start your homepage text with a brief sentence that gives a summary of exactly what your site has to offer. Then, provide text highlighting
Over and over, I said, you can see how opinions lead to action. The people who acted for equal rights of people of all races BELIEVED in the equality of people of all races. Likewise people who acted for women's rights, the rights of gays and lesbians, children's rights, animal rights.
Aha, they went en masse. See, it's just a matter of belief.
Is it, I asked. Can we not show that people of different races have equal value, that women and men, people with differing sexual orientations, children and adults, have equal right to life and to develop their capacities?
No. Absolutely not. It was just a matter of opinion. And therefore (over and over again), while they might share my opinion that men and women were equal, they were absolutely totally against my opinion that my opinion was not just a matter of opinion.
****
I could not even get them to see that my opinion (that all opinions are not equal) was as good as theirs (that all opinions are equal). But it had to be, I said. Because if all opinions are equal, then the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal (yet another bit of evidence that their opinion made no sense, that their opinion held that two things were equally true, when only one could be true).
****
What is going on here, I ask.
To some extent I know. For a long time, many people held opinions not backed the evidence - on racial inequality, on the right of people to enslave other people, on the right of one sex to dominate over another, on the right of people to declare another religion wrong, on the right of people to take land away from other people. So Christians were sure that their religion was the right one, etc.
Good that we stop holding those opinions.
Easy to go to the other extreme - once again not backed by evidence - that no opinion is better than another.
****
In a way, there has been a lack of change. Many unfounded opinions used to be widely held. Now the equally unfounded opinion that all opinions are equal is widely held (except by the most traditional students, who often are adamant about opinions founded on belief, not on evidence - especially relating to gays and lesbians, male-female equality, sex outside marriage).
To ask for evidence asks a lot more of people. It asks them to think, and to think logically. It asks them to go out and back their opinion, to found it on as much information as possible. It asks them to figure out which source is reliable and can be used as evidence, and to what extent. A quick rote answer is not enough.
****
A question I am left with is: what has happened in the local education system (Montreal, Quebec, Canada - but it is highly likely that the phenomenon is more widespread than that) that students come out of high school with the opinion that all opinions are equal - and at the same time they hold many opinions where they are convinced they are right (abortion is a woman's right or it is not; the government is wrong or right is all kinds of ways, especially here in Quebec around language; gay marriage is right or wrong).
What are you saying, I want to ask.
One, how can you believe any of your opinions are right or wrong, if the opposite opinion is equally right or wrong?
Two, if all opinions are equal, it follows that the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal. Yes equals no.
Three, if all opinions are equal, then why should not all behaviors be equal in value? Why should any behavior be truly worse than another? Isn't it just a matter of opinion that murder, say, is less good than playing cards?
Four, if all opinions are equal, why are people encouraged to get a second opinion when faced with a major illness (or even major car trouble). It only makes sense to go for more than one opinion if some opinions are better (have a better chance, if followed, of leading to health or to a lower car repair bill) than others.
Five, if all opinions are equal, why are we bothering with research, with getting more facts, finding better ways of doing things (including more effective ways of reaching students). I
Email is free. Or almost next to zero cost.Whether you send an email to one person or to a million people the cost is typically the same. It is an extremely effective tool for communicating with prospects and customers. One major draw back is using it as an illegitimate marketing tool, spamming. Everyone hates receiving Spam and resent those that send it.Building the ListBased on your business niche, acquire a relevant list of potential customers or prospects. Built up a list from the beginning can be time consuming. But once someone request to be put into your emailing list, you can periodically send them messages to keep them informed of your products or services. These are referred to as “opt-in” lists. Most importantly is with these lists, you have their permission to continue communication.With your newly acquired high quality list, make use of it wisely. These guidelines give you the Dos and Don’ts in making sure you produce results in the coming years:Don’t create a campaign that promotes scams or illegitimate businesses. Your offers and information should be legitimate, to create trust for a long time business.Do make sure the content is as relevant to the request the list asked for in the f
****
What is going on here, I ask.
To some extent I know. For a long time, many people held opinions not backed the evidence - on racial inequality, on the right of people to enslave other people, on the right of one sex to dominate over another, on the right of people to declare another religion wrong, on the right of people to take land away from other people. So Christians were sure that their religion was the right one, etc.
Good that we stop holding those opinions.
Easy to go to the other extreme - once again not backed by evidence - that no opinion is better than another.
****
In a way, there has been a lack of change. Many unfounded opinions used to be widely held. Now the equally unfounded opinion that all opinions are equal is widely held (except by the most traditional students, who often are adamant about opinions founded on belief, not on evidence - especially relating to gays and lesbians, male-female equality, sex outside marriage).
To ask for evidence asks a lot more of people. It asks them to think, and to think logically. It asks them to go out and back their opinion, to found it on as much information as possible. It asks them to figure out which source is reliable and can be used as evidence, and to what extent. A quick rote answer is not enough.
****
A question I am left with is: what has happened in the local education system (Montreal, Quebec, Canada - but it is highly likely that the phenomenon is more widespread than that) that students come out of high school with the opinion that all opinions are equal - and at the same time they hold many opinions where they are convinced they are right (abortion is a woman's right or it is not; the government is wrong or right is all kinds of ways, especially here in Quebec around language; gay marriage is right or wrong).
What are you saying, I want to ask.
One, how can you believe any of your opinions are right or wrong, if the opposite opinion is equally right or wrong?
Two, if all opinions are equal, it follows that the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal. Yes equals no.
Three, if all opinions are equal, then why should not all behaviors be equal in value? Why should any behavior be truly worse than another? Isn't it just a matter of opinion that murder, say, is less good than playing cards?
Four, if all opinions are equal, why are people encouraged to get a second opinion when faced with a major illness (or even major car trouble). It only makes sense to go for more than one opinion if some opinions are better (have a better chance, if followed, of leading to health or to a lower car repair bill) than others.
Five, if all opinions are equal, why are we bothering with research, with getting more facts, finding better ways of doing things (including more effective ways of reaching students). I
The importance of family health insurance programs is paramount. If a family has coverage for the children only and one or both parents suffer an illness, it is quite possible that the adult will delay medical treatment due to the rising cost of health care. Due to this decision, they put their health at severe risk potentially leading to a life threatening illness or the inability to work and/or care for the children. For this reason as well as several others, it is important for a family to consider health insurance coverage for all members.What types of programs are available for family health insurance?Family health insurance programs have changed from indemnity plans to managed care plans. The difference between them being indemnity insurance would allow you to go to a medical professional of your choice and both the patient and insurer would pay a portion of the bill. With managed care plans you have different options available such as, Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), and Point of Service plans (POSs). Each of these plans offer different types of benefits and it is important to research what they offer and match them to the needs of your family.Family insurance plans d
What are you saying, I want to ask.
One, how can you believe any of your opinions are right or wrong, if the opposite opinion is equally right or wrong?
Two, if all opinions are equal, it follows that the opinion that all opinions are not equal is just as good as the opinion that all opinions are equal. Yes equals no.
Three, if all opinions are equal, then why should not all behaviors be equal in value? Why should any behavior be truly worse than another? Isn't it just a matter of opinion that murder, say, is less good than playing cards?
Four, if all opinions are equal, why are people encouraged to get a second opinion when faced with a major illness (or even major car trouble). It only makes sense to go for more than one opinion if some opinions are better (have a better chance, if followed, of leading to health or to a lower car repair bill) than others.
Five, if all opinions are equal, why are we bothering with research, with getting more facts, finding better ways of doing things (including more effective ways of reaching students). In fact, I haven't wanted to stop with the opinion that some opinions are better than others. I also think that by looking further at the question, maybe I will come to a better way of reaching more students. In other words, it won't be just an unresearched unbacked opinion that this is a more effective way. It will be (as all opinions should be) as backed as possible backed by thought, experience, research, evidence.
(As aside, if one has an unbacked opinion - say, a quick first ipression - the best thing is to acknowledge this.)
Back to, not stopping with an opinion, going on to getting as much evidence as possible. With teaching as well, by seeing what happens in class, by experimenting, I've found some approaches work better than others - because it has been far more than once that I have met the opinion that all opinions are equal. In fact, it's something I think all parents and teachers should look at and explore, to break the spell of this rigid (and inaccurate) opinion.
****
One thing that I am sure plays into students being sure that all opinions are equal is another belief held by the vast majority of them, that they should not be judgmental - as if making good, well-founded judgments were not an important human activity.
It used to be said that someone had "a good head on their shoulders," meaning that they had "good judgment." Now judging is judged (in another of those bizarre standards - where the only evil seems to be judging) as a major vice.
But you are being judgmental, I say to my students. You are judging. Just like the people who hold that all opinions are equal are being opinionated - they are once more holding that they are right and everyone else (no matter what the evidence) is wrong.
As for what I've found works best for me, on the one hand, nothing has worked all the time. On the other hand, some things have at least sometimes worked.
Come to my site for my attempts at:
Breaking the Spell of Stupid (making no sense) Opinions.
http://www.elsas-word-story-image-idea-music-emporium.com/the-idea-emporium-stupid-opinion-spell-break.html
****
One hope:
that there will soon be more good thinking, good judging, having a good sense of judgement.
I like it, having a good head on my shoulders.
****
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