I Don't Know

[mikkel_the_dane]

Just yanking your chain.

Well, it worked.

 

[Tomef]

Well, it worked.

You flushed?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

You flushed?

No, not really, I just sometimes take something literal, when they apparently are not. One of my psychiatrists noted that about me.

 

[RestlessSoul]

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?

A friend has a handy phrase he's fond of repeating; "Opinions are like arseholes. Everybody's got one."

 

[osgart]

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?

Opinions are hypotheticals at best. I don't know is very important to recognize, and just how far it goes. It's alright to not know about specialized subjects, and academic disciplines in general that have not been studied.

However there are a lot of things a person can learn on their own through experiences, and forethought. I don't think people should swallow people's ideas about facts blindly. Experts should be able to demonstrate their knowledge to non experts to the point where you know they have expertise. I don't trust every expert unless I can see evidence of their effective knowledge.

 

[JustGeorge]

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.

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

Spoiler: Song

Love that song!

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

I relate to that.

No, not really, I just sometimes take something literal, when they apparently are not. One of my psychiatrists noted that about me.

Me too. Sometimes this causes me to laugh inappropriately.

Like when someone says "get this ****ing garbage out of here".

A friend has a handy phrase he's fond of repeating; "Opinions are like arseholes. Everybody's got one."

If I don't have an opinion, will the other disappear?

 

[JustGeorge]

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

I agree.

I've also noted that if I make a statement about something I believe or do, people sometimes respond defensively, as if I was implying they ought to , too. (Though I think its always been like that.)

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

They really do.

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

Agreed.

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

Think of all the stuff we(humanity) once thought we knew that's now been disproven!

Idk, and I'm all right with that.

I don't know if I am or not.

 

[Revoltingest]

...I in a sense don't know anything.

And yet, you argue so much here!

 

[Kathryn]

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. LOL

 

[Revoltingest]

The useful thing about "I don't know".....
One gains more respect by being wrong
seldom, than by being right often.
People really remember the booboos.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

And yet, you argue so much here!

Well, I feel strongly about stupid old men like myself and others here. So make of it what you like or not.

 

[Kathryn]

The useful thing about "I don't know".....
One gains more respect by being wrong
seldom, than by being right often.
People really remember the booboos.

This is so true.

 

[an anarchist]

What is it alright to not know about?

Ultimately, the world is purposefully set up to keep everyone naive. So there is a reason why people don't know. But it doesn't make it alright not to know. It is the collective ignorance that brings us to where we are.

 

[Spice]

A friend has a handy phrase he's fond of repeating; "Opinions are like arseholes. Everybody's got one."

My ex was famous for that phrase until our second son was born without one! Yeah, that's a genetic hiccup thing. Ya'll now have something for "What I Learned on RF Today." RF is educational!

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

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

"always" is a big word.

 

[InChrist]

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?

There’s so much I don’t know. Considering the vastness of the universe I am sure I only know the most minuscule amount of information or what is taking place.

 

[sun rise]

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

My wife and I worked that out. She's obsessed with music and I'm obsessed with God. We both recognize and accept the other one's obsession and find it liberating to have our own. We both recognize what would happen if we had the same one - disagreements and even fights about the one correct way to approach our shared obsession.

Well, I partially take that back. We're both obsessed with our dog and in that case we're fine.

 

[sun rise]

And yet, you argue so much here!

What has knowledge to do with arguing?

 

[vulcanlogician]

"The only thing I know is that I know nothing."
--Socrates

NOT KNOWING is just as much of a virtue as knowing. From a position of admitted ignorance, one can learn much.

 

[JustGeorge]

My wife and I worked that out. She's obsessed with music and I'm obsessed with God. We both recognize and accept the other one's obsession and find it liberating to have our own. We both recognize what would happen if we had the same one - disagreements and even fights about the one correct way to approach our shared obsession.

Well, I partially take that back. We're both obsessed with our dog and in that case we're fine.

That's interesting! It's been the opposite for me and my spouse.

When we shared obsessions(or at least enjoyed the other's obsessions), we got along great.

I cannot say a simple changing of interests is the root of all our problems, but it sure as hell didn't help.