How important is your opinion?

[URA]

It's not too hard to find threads on these forums that have more than 50 replies. Watch any decently popular YouTube video, and the comment section is loaded. Make mention of Trump around most any group of people, and they'll be quick to tell you exactly what they think about him.

But...how much does our opinion really matter? How many of the replies to these threads on CF are actually adding anything to the conversation? How many YouTube comments bring up anything worthwhile? How many people can actually have rational conversations about Trump, without just spouting out a strong opinion & maybe a few policies to back it up?

Why do we think it's so important that our opinion is known?

 

[dzheremi]

Wait a minute...aren't we supposed to form our opinions on politicians based on their policies? I'd like that a lot better than just "He's a jerk!" or "Make America Great Again, ya dumb liberals!" or whatever.

Anyway, nobody's opinion is important until others decide it is. Notice how nobody's listening to, I don't know...Sinead O'Connor anymore. Her time has passed. But for most of us who never have a 'time' to begin with, probably a YouTube comment (or some meassageboard posts...) is all that we're going to get.

 

[ripple the car]

Good question...

 

[.Mikha'el.]

I don't mind a site such as this because it's about civil discussion, but letters to the editor in newspapers and websites are a different matter. When I see those, what it tells me is that the writers think their opinions about the news items and other issues are so important that the readers absolutely have to hear about them and that what they have to say will instantly public perception about the issues at hand. I'm really trying hard to learn not to read them because that's only an encouragement.

 

[zephcom]

It's not too hard to find threads on these forums that have more than 50 replies. Watch any decently popular YouTube video, and the comment section is loaded. Make mention of Trump around most any group of people, and they'll be quick to tell you exactly what they think about him.

But...how much does our opinion really matter? How many of the replies to these threads on CF are actually adding anything to the conversation? How many YouTube comments bring up anything worthwhile? How many people can actually have rational conversations about Trump, without just spouting out a strong opinion & maybe a few policies to back it up?

Why do we think it's so important that our opinion is known?

Forums exist so people can have conversations. It would be difficult to have conversations if people were not allowed to voice their opinion.

 

[Tone]

It's not too hard to find threads on these forums that have more than 50 replies. Watch any decently popular YouTube video, and the comment section is loaded. Make mention of Trump around most any group of people, and they'll be quick to tell you exactly what they think about him.

But...how much does our opinion really matter? How many of the replies to these threads on CF are actually adding anything to the conversation? How many YouTube comments bring up anything worthwhile? How many people can actually have rational conversations about Trump, without just spouting out a strong opinion & maybe a few policies to back it up?

Why do we think it's so important that our opinion is known?

My opinion is important in proportion to how much I value the opinions of others...or something...

 

[jayem]

My opinion is important to me. But in an on-line forum, I just express it, and anyone else can agree or disagree.

 

[MotherFirefly]

Perhaps being the only known entity capable of forming an opinion has gotten to our heads.