It seems that over the past couple months or so, I started having and engaging in more political discussions (on account of the presidential election). When you’re in that space, it feels like you need to have an opinion on every little thing. Geopolitics, taxes, financial policy, etc. How important is it to educate myself and ask questions? Do you feel that pressure to have an opinion on everything?
edit: I don’t think this question is about politics, but if it is, I can delete this.
Imo it’s perfectly fine not to have an opinion on something so long as you don’t weigh in on it, much like how you shouldn’t complain about which candidate got elected if you didn’t vote.
Don’t have an opinion. Have a code of ethics and empathy. That’ll dictate your opinions when they are needed
About pineapple pizza? Yes. About Nazis? No.
IDK man.
I think it’s better to be quiet on a matter you don’t understand.
I mean, it’s okay to not have positions on a lot of things. People tend to get upset if the position you’re dithering over is whether they or their loved ones deserve to live or have equal human rights. Most other things, honorable people may differ.
How important is it to educate yourself and ask questions?
Very. Everything is political, and ignorance about politics is a luxury. It allows others to make decisions for you, often ones you wouldn’t choose yourself.
Of course, it’s okay. Being able to say “I don’t know” is a sign of intelligence in itself.
A huge number of people form opinions based on very limited knowledge, but these opinions then become part of their identity, and they feel compelled to defend them tooth and nail. I think the middle ground here is the idea of “strong opinions, loosely held,” meaning you have an opinion, but you understand it’s based on the best knowledge available at the time. You leave room for new information and allow your opinion to evolve. In fact, most opinions probably should be like that. There are very few views I hold that I feel are almost guaranteed not to change.
The Dunning-Kruger effect plays a big role here. When someone gains a moderate amount of knowledge on a subject, they often feel like they have a good understanding of it. But as they keep learning, they realize just how little they actually know. Uninformed people, by contrast, don’t know what they don’t know. These are the ones who write comments on social media pretending they’ve solved complex issues with simplistic solutions like “just do X,” while completely ignoring all the nuance. When you then try to introduce that nuance, they dig their heels in, taking it as a personal attack rather than a critique of their idea. This happens because they didn’t leave room for new information - they locked in their opinion, made it part of their identity, and threw away the key.
I have a hell of a lot of respect for people who are forthright and just say “You know, I don’t have a lot of experience regarding <subject>, so I don’t think I can weigh in on that”
it amazes me how seldom people are brave enough to admit they don’t know something.
Is it morally wrong to not spend energy forming an opinion even when I have sufficient evidence? I don’t think so. I am entitled to my thoughts, whatever they may be.
It’s ok to not have an opinion, and also ok to be ambivalent about something.
Your time and attention are not unlimited resources.
Can I have your opinion on the weather on Raxacoricofallapatorians right now?
- You’ve never heard of it? Absolutely fair that you don’t have an opinion then.
- You don’t care? Also fair not to have an opinion.
- You haven’t bothered to stay up to date with Slitheen weather politics? Fair, no need to have an opinion.
- You just don’t want to form an opinion, just cuz? Yep, fair, no opinion it is.
Heck, you can have an opinion and just go “fuck it, no I am not sharing it”. That’s also fine.
It depends on what the opinion is on If you don’t have an opinion on whether strawberry or raspberry jam makes no difference
But if it’s something that affects you or people you care about (or people you should care about) and you don’t form an opinion that reflects badly
I pick my subjects based on how much I actually have a fair deal of knowledge about.
I don’t dare enter discussions that’s beyond my knowledge, like hardcore scientific shit.
Polite society - “Never, ever discuss politics or religion. Thinking that you can change someone’s mind on either of these subjects is foolish and arrogant and the conversation will always, without fail, end in an argument”
Americans for some fucking reason - “Hold my high fructose corn syrup”
I have no strong feelings either way
