Hey, I read that whole thing without even realizing you wrote it, Shin. I wondered why the writing style sounded familiar.

I agree with this. The main point I don't understand is why people think they need to use opinions as a personal attack instead of backing up their own argument with facts. I've been in a few internet debates where this has happened; the one I can remember at the moment was on an article about a 16-year-old who killed some family members because they wouldn't let him play Halo. I chose to be the devil's advocate by saying it could have been partly his parents' fault for not raising him properly, just because I thought the psychological side of the story was interesting and wanted to look into it. Because of this I got tons of people harping on me about how I was a horrible person for thinking that the parents could even be remotely involved and that I should just shut up and go away. Later we got into discussions about obsession, and they thought it was completely bad, but I told of my own experiences with obsession (if I like something, I have to know absolutely everything about it. I collect screenshots/music/etc, I psychoanalyze characters, I find as much fan creations as I can, and I basically live the fandom until I get bored of it or find a new one to obsess over) and they used it as proof that I didn't know what I was talking about and whatnot. I guess this was partly my fault for choosing such a touchy topic to delve into, but I still didn't appreciate the way they were treating me for it, and how they were judging me for my own experiences. Especially since I took my beginning stance with a hypothetical view, and even made sure that I'd made that clear.

I'm not really sure where I wanted to go with that rant. Sorry.

Anyway, great piece of writing. I really like your editorial type of stories. They make a good read. :)

~Kyrianne

Well said, sir. An enjoyable read. Mmm, WoW Forums...so much idiocy. There we don't get "in your opinion", we get "stfu troll ur a dumbass". but maybe thats what 4chan is like too, i dunno, i've never been there. usually my grammer is better so I apologize, but im typing on a tiny ass 6 inch keyboard.

This article reminded me of someone I know IRL. OTL

*is reminded of certain persons A**es who use said tactic*

Anyway, I've seen it and it tends to lower my opinion of the person in question. Plus I hate having to use it when someone simply refuses to accept that their opinion (and yes I'm using it in the comment, feel free to shoot me when I'm done) isn't law and is only valid in their puny little heads.

I've run into this a lot. Not so much directed at me but I've seen it used towards people who are jackasses. Problem with that is then said jackass often just comes back and goes to town since that kind of person is often a troll.

So unless I'm beating someone for being stupid or just saying, hey I can accept that you don't see it the same, I prefer to simply not use it at all. =P

I can definitely see why this would annoy you Shin.

~Crystia

I rarely go to discussions or debates... Though I do understand your standpoint... An opinion is very judgmental. Being so, it can be changed at whim by the person who made it. Going into arguments as to how you built that opinion can actually change your perspective... If you give it some thought, at least.

Yeah, I don't like seeing "In you opinion..." too well, either. Of course, one can create his or her own perspective from what he or she sees... but that should not be rudely attacked simply because one has a different idea.

I really dislike the in your opinion stance when it's being used to imply that something you enjoy is crap and only you are stupid enough to like it, or as if your opinion is trivial.

I don't mind it so much when it's just a stance of we see differently and that's fine. That's more like respecting someone who doesn't agree.

I've had to use it, more with people who simply can't accept that they might be wrong, and it always drives me batty when I do since I'm thinking they shouldn't need me or anyone else to whack them upside the head with it.

Anyway, this kind of thing also reminds me that I had no clue in hell what I was getting into when I accepted being a mod for The Lounge. o_O Sometimes I wonder about my sanity when I'm in that place.

@Shinmaru:

Right. And saying "this is a good series" may or may not be subjective, so one must be able to distinguish such things.

The same concept can be applied overarchingly to politics, religion, and almost all current events.

@Allamorph:

The main bone I have with "opinionators", and you might as well, is that not only are opinion and Truth independent and therefore do not always line up, but one must also know when a situation calls for one or the other. Skill (i.e., mastery of a craft) is objective; enjoyment is subjective. I might enjoy someone who is a mediocre artist, and I might not enjoy someone who is the best at what they do. Whether or not I like them has no bearing on their talent or effort.

People who cannot discern such things do not need to engage in public discussion.

Definitely a good point. There is a danger of letting opinion morph into bias, which does not lead to much good. I'll pluck two movies out of thin air -- 2001: A Space Odyssey and Raiders of the Lost Ark. The former is more well made, has a much deeper story, has a deeper method of storytelling, etc. If I were giving my opinion on the "best" movie ever, I'd think of 2001 before Raiders of the Lost Ark. But if I am writing about which I enjoy more, I'm going with Raiders, just because it hits all the right notes with me. Both movies I like, and I have a clear opinion of which I prefer, but I can set my bias aside and objectively argue which is the "better" movie.

Never stopped me.

Haha, I doubt that it would! If I care enough about the topic I'll sit and type as long as I need to (my occasionally lengthy comments on anime posts attest to this >>;).

@:

You actually just said that, Gome. XDDDD

I feel ya, Shin. Many people value their own opinions far too highly, as if they are absolute and supreme. That's a very silly and naïve notion.

The main bone I have with "opinionators", and you might as well, is that not only are opinion and Truth independent and therefore do not always line up, but one must also know when a situation calls for one or the other. Skill (i.e., mastery of a craft) is objective; enjoyment is subjective. I might enjoy someone who is a mediocre artist, and I might not enjoy someone who is the best at what they do. Whether or not I like them has no bearing on their talent or effort.

People who cannot discern such things do not need to engage in public discussion.

It is just a waste of time if a person drags an argument out to ridiculous lengths and then curls up in the Internet fetal position, hoping the big, bad poster will just lay off his or her precious opinion.

This tactic is further made useless because us Big Bad Wolves start digging in harder once we get the scent of fear and blood in our noses.

Also we get offended that the person would fear being wrong to such an extent that they protect their reality with tears and anger.

(This is part of the reason why I rarely get into debates. It takes me way too long to make counter-arguments, because I over think my replies.)

Never stopped me.

@Kastom:

OMFG I HAET U

I'd also just like to point out that this is just IN YOUR OPINION.

*shot*

Yeah, this is one of the many reasons I just plain well generally don't bother having serious discussions on the Internet. I just find that for the most part there just is no point, as you'll not learn anything other than how many idiots are out there that feel saying "yor opinions stpd", or, if you get the classy type, "Bah, your way of thinking is obviously wrong. Come talk to me when you begin to think properly." is an actual argumentative point.

Random point of clarification: I don't care if people use "IMO" -- what am I, the Acronym Gestapo? -- but expecting others to do so because you cannot tell the difference between fact and opinion is absurd.

@Shinmaru:

Yeah. Some people are just egotists. >>;

@TimeChaser:

I figured I might be the only one, because I have seen people dumb enough to try it in only a few places online, but the general attitude of discounting a person's opinion in such a ridiculous way just irks me.

lol, I thought you would enjoy that.

I can't say I've come across someone in an online debate who tried pulling that tactic, at least not in such blunt terms. Guess I'm lucky.

loldoctorwho. XD (way to put that in there)