Grey Acumen said:
common sense isn't always so common, yes, very true, but the point still remains that ideas are meant to be shared and tested for their survivability within reality. The value of any idea is inherently proportional to its ability to stand up to different points of view without losing its consideration a rational thought.
Furthermore, as a race, we need to be able to share ideas with each other, this being done through communication. To simply take a difference of opinion and shrug it off as simply something to accept creates a dichotomy of thought within our species. When I say that the Wii is the best console, and someone else says that the 360 is the best console, which causes a breakdown in the value of thought over what the "best" console is.
To everyone else, the word best qualifies that it is better than all others, having two different objects that are both the best in the same category is impossible purely by definition of the word. Obviously this difference stems from the individual qualifications of hte subjects stating these opinions, but that doesn't negate the fact that the purpose of any form of communication is to share an idea.
In order to have an idea shared, we can not simply dismiss it as opinion that only applies to that individual. True communication requires us to work towards understanding the underlying facts by which that individual formed their opinion, and then using those facts to form our own.
So to sum up more simply:
Sure, people have opinions, but we're going to debate them, because that's the whole point of having a forum; being able to share and discuss the merits of our ideas and opinions. With this will come both support and criticism.
Whether intentionally or not, the OP essentially has stated that opinions based on careful thought and consideration, assessing strengths and weaknesses of the subjects in question, have no more value than those pulled out of our ass. If there is one thing I always take seriously, it is the amount of thought I put into my opinions and conclusions, and I find it just a tad insulting when someone tries to tell me that effort is supposedly wasted. |
I'm not saying that you SHOULDN'T have any opinion. It's neary impossible for anyone to not have one in the world of entertainment in this day and age. But even if an individual has gone through the strengths and weaknesses of a subject matter like video games, that persons biases are bound to catch up with him/her sooner or later. Just like my biases, I think differently than you do. Everyone thinks differently, which is obvious.
I'm also not saying that opinions don't have value; without them how would we come to a conclusion on what to buy and what to enjoy in the video game world? There's no question that everyones opinion has value.
What I am saying however, is you cannot make an opinion into a universal fact. Things change in the world frequently, opinions are not constants by any means. Considering that no two human beings ever grow up in the same exact way (not living arrangements and financial reasons, but things that are so subtle such as how you walk around your own house, the way you percieve objects and people in visual terms, how active you are on a daily basis, what foods you eat, and what incidents you see as opposed to other people living with you or not).
Look here's an example: (please don't take this too seriously or personal)
Fact: Hitler rose to power to become the chancellor of Germany.
Opinion: Hitler was evil.
Now, while I personally agree with the opinion, the German people did not however at that time. Because they loved the idea of feeling strong again after the restrictions and punishments the German people endured after Germany's defeat in WW1. Even some people today don't agree that Hitler was evil.
It's all your own perception on what happened, happens, what you think is best etc. Our own opinions change overtime as well. Some may stay with us until we die, while others become completely non-existent as opposed to how important they once were to us.
