I Don't Know

[JustGeorge]

Those can be dirty words for some.

It feels like there's a lot of pressure to have an opinion on just about anything. Major issues, minor issues... you're expected to 'know' something, or at least pretend you do.
How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions? Is it alright to not know? What is it alright to not know about?

 

[Stevicus]

Those can be dirty words for some.

It feels like there's a lot of pressure to have an opinion on just about anything. Major issues, minor issues... you're expected to 'know' something, or at least pretend you do.
How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions? Is it alright to not know? What is it alright to not know about?

I don't know how important it is to have a wide range of firm opinions. I have them, but whenever I speak them, I get the feeling that most people would rather I keep my mouth shut. I'm kind of like Linus in this comic:

 

[Revoltingest]

Those can be dirty words for some.

It feels like there's a lot of pressure to have an opinion on just about anything. Major issues, minor issues... you're expected to 'know' something, or at least pretend you do.
How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions? Is it alright to not know? What is it alright to not know about?

I have opinions when I have them.
When I don't, I don't know.
Saying so is easy.
No need to support them.

 

[JustGeorge]

I don't know how important it is to have a wide range of firm opinions. I have them, but whenever I speak them, I get the feeling that most people would rather I keep my mouth shut. I'm kind of like Linus in this comic:

I'm with Linus.

 

[Spice]

The opposite of humility is a prideful nature. The 4 statements at the heart of humility are:
• I was wrong.
• I'm sorry.
• I don't know.
• I need help.

These 4 statements, if reflected upon honestly in everyday life, IMO, can guide us in the right direction.

Perhaps there should be a fifth?
• In my opinion.

 

[Audie]

I don't know where I'm a gonna go
when the volcanoe blow.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions? Is it alright to not know? What is it alright to not know about?

In order ...

1. ... not at all.
2. ... of course.
3. ... topics presenting no overarching ethical reason to be informed.

 

[JustGeorge]

In order ...

1. ... not at all.
2. ... of course.
3. ... topics presenting no overarching ethical reason to be informed.

If one is informed on a topic, do you think it will always lead to the formation of a strong stance on it?

 

[sun rise]

Those can be dirty words for some.

It feels like there's a lot of pressure to have an opinion on just about anything. Major issues, minor issues... you're expected to 'know' something, or at least pretend you do.
How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions? Is it alright to not know? What is it alright to not know about?

Some questions require having an opinion: "does this make me look fat?", for example and "do you like this" for whatever my wife is thinking of buying. Not having the correct opinion or any opinion is not an option.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Those can be dirty words for some.

It feels like there's a lot of pressure to have an opinion on just about anything. Major issues, minor issues... you're expected to 'know' something, or at least pretend you do.
How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions? Is it alright to not know? What is it alright to not know about?

Well, as a strong skeptic I in a sense don't know anything. Rather I understand it as I have beliefs that apparently work.
Now technically I believe that knowledge is a subset of beliefs, but it is still beliefs.

 

[an anarchist]

We can't afford to be neutral on a moving train!
Screams the System of a Down guy

Spoiler: Song

 

[Tomef]

Those can be dirty words for some.

It feels like there's a lot of pressure to have an opinion on just about anything. Major issues, minor issues... you're expected to 'know' something, or at least pretend you do.
How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions? Is it alright to not know? What is it alright to not know about?

I had an opinion once, I can't remember if it was any good or not.

 

[Tomef]

Well, as a strong skeptic I in a sense don't know anything. Rather I understand it as I have beliefs that apparently work.
Now technically I believe that knowledge is a subset of beliefs, but it is still beliefs.

Do you know your name, your shoe size and the name of at least one breakfast cereal?

 

[Quagmire]

Those can be dirty words for some.

It feels like there's a lot of pressure to have an opinion on just about anything. Major issues, minor issues... you're expected to 'know' something, or at least pretend you do.

What I think I'm seeing lately is that the more trendy fanaticism comes, the less acceptable it is to be neutral on anything.

People who are obsessed with something have a hard time understanding why everybody else isn't.

How important do you feel it is to have a wide range of firm opinions?

Depends on what the goal is. If the goal is to understand something, I'd say you're better off with flexible opinions.

Is it alright to not know?

It had better be, because as a species we're pretty clueless about most things.

What is it alright to not know about?

Idk, and I'm all right with that.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It's more important to acknowledge when you don't know. Yammering on with an educated or ill informed ignorance is always--always--obvious to those who do know amd its foolish to do so.

 

[Tomef]

If one is informed on a topic, do you think it will always lead to the formation of a strong stance on it?

One should always aim for the elusive buffalo stance.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Well, as a strong skeptic I in a sense don't know anything. Rather I understand it as I have beliefs that apparently work.
Now technically I believe that knowledge is a subset of beliefs, but it is still beliefs.

It's not really a belief that if I stick a knife in an electric outlet it's gonna hurt really bad.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Do you know your name, your shoe size and the name of at least one breakfast cereal?

Well this is discussion and not debate, so I don't answer that as I would end up in doing it like a debate.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

It's not really a belief that if I stick a knife in an electric outlet it's gonna hurt really bad.

I don't answer as I can't answer without answering as if it was a debate. But that is me.

 

[Tomef]

I don't answer as I can't answer without answering as if it was a debate. But that is me.

Just yanking your chain.