[StarsInHerEyes]

I came across this article on The Conversation and wondered what people thought about it.

Full article

Do you think that the statement "I am entitled to my opinion" creates a

false equivalence between experts and non-experts that is an increasingly pernicious feature of our public discourse

?

What do you think the phase "entitled to my opinion" means when people use it?

No-one has the right to stop people thinking and saying whatever they want

or

Entitled to have your views treated as serious candidates for the truth

I am just interested in what others thought about this article. I found it thought provoking.

This post has been edited by StarsInHerEyes: 18/12/2012, 11:09 AM

[BobTheBottersnik...]

I fully agree with it. I don't think Nazis are entitled to their opinion if that opinion means that others of a different race or religion are treated as lesser for no reason other than the colour of their skin, which is not a valid reason.

It sh*ts me to tears when I hear twits like Lord Monckton going on about the great climate change conspiracy when he does not have the technical knowlege or education to talk about it, and is merely parrotting the loopier edge of reason. Same with Meryl Dorey.

Yes, they can have their option, but saying that they are entitled to their opinion implies that it the same weight as someone who actually has some expertise in the field in question, and that I do not agree with.

This post has been edited by JingleBob: 18/12/2012, 11:16 AM

[RobotFerretOfDoo...]

What Bob just said.

You're entitled to have your own opinion. What you're not entitled to is respect for your opinion. That has to be earned by the value of the opinion itself.

And you are not entitled to express your opinion and not have it challenged.

This post has been edited by WootFerretOfDoom: 18/12/2012, 11:37 AM

[countrymel]

You're entitled to have your own opinion. What you're not entitled to is respect for your opinion. That has to be earned by the value of the opinion itself.

And you are not entitled to express your opinion and not have it challenged.

Thank you WFoD - that's it in a nutshell.

[Escapin]

Yep, drives me mental too.

[cinnabubble]

You're all entitled to my opinion. At great length.

[*Greenbag*]

Sure, you're entitled to your opinion. But that opinion is about as useless as a magical unicorn if it cannot be supported by reason, evidence and reasonable argument.

If you want to hold onto an opinion in the face of reasonable opposition, without providing a counter-argument, then I'm entitled to opine that you are an idiot.

[LifesGood]

You're all entitled to my opinion. At great length.

And highly entertaining it is too.

Jinglebob sums up exactly how I feel about it.

[ILBB]

You're entitled to have your own opinion. What you're not entitled to is respect for your opinion. That has to be earned by the value of the opinion itself.

And you are not entitled to express your opinion and not have it challenged.

Yep this - saves me working out how to say it and not as eloquently!

[HeroOfCanton]

What Bob just said.

You're entitled to have your own opinion. What you're not entitled to is respect for your opinion. That has to be earned by the value of the opinion itself.

And you are not entitled to express your opinion and not have it challenged.

This. says it better than I could.