Opinions

[Thaius]

Lately, every time a thread here pops up asking why people like/dislike a given game, or why something gets so much hate, there is inevitably always some smartass saying, "Because they have a different opinion and it's just as valid as yours, so let them have it!" as though questioning someone else's opinion is some sort of unforgivable sin.

Sorry, but this has been bugging me; let's get one thing straight. This is a forum. Forums are for discussion. Not just for sharing opinions, not just for asserting your own thoughts, but for discussing all of that.

Opinions are not some sort of sacred right of man that is not to be questioned or debated. Opinions can be misinformed. Opinions can be formed out of bias. Opinions can even be based on blatant lies and, as such, be legitimately wrong. For that matter, there is unmistakable value in understanding the opinions of others even if you do not hold said opinions yourself. So why do so many people on this site lately seem to immediately attack anyone seeking explanations for opposing opinions?

This has been a real annoyance for me lately, as I fail to understand why people would get upset about questions and discussions about opinions on a forum which exists for the sole purpose of doing so. I look forward to reading either your explanations or agreements.

 

[Alexnader]

Well that's one opinion you can take...

(had to be done)

Anyway my explanation is either people have heard the discussion before and are sick of it or don't understand how someone could take issue with opinion X and thus attack them for questioning the aforementioned opinion. It's human nature and as such is fairly stupid.

 

[Wuggy]

I'm pretty sure you partially mean me, because I did that just before a that kind of thread, before this one popped up. And if you do, I did not say "and it's just valid as yours, so let them have it!" or anything implicating that.

And you're right, opinions can be discussed and debated. I don't in any way oppose that. What does annoy me in "Why all the hate" threads is that they usually don't carry any actual interest to the opinion of the opposing side. They are just segways to dump the OPs opinion on everyone, and there's nothing wrong with that per se, but please don't pretend like you're actually interested in actually knowing why the subject in question is so popular or unpopular. I tend to say "All the hate is because people have differing opinions from you" merely because that's the right answer to that question.

So yeah, for me, it's really the naming of the topic that disturbs me. If someone were to make "CoD is great and here's why" with the same content, I would not have any quarrel with that what so ever.

 

[zama174]

Thaius.. I know you not but I feel the desire to now call you friend.. Your avatar might be part of that reason..

Basically you have stumbled upon what is simply described as a ingrained part of the human condition. I will admit that I am also shocked by the rising amount of unintelligible arguments as to why one holds the opinions they do on this site.. As this use to be one of the great places to discuss opinions on all things, from video games to sociopolitical views of the world we live in. But the simple fact is that some people simply hold opinions because they do.. Especially when it comes to video games.

Take me for example.. I don't like Darksiders. Why? I haven't the slightest idea really. The story isn't great by any stretch, but its still a reasonably good, and from what i have heard has a pretty good ending and a few twists. But I just can't get engaged with it. The combat feels unintuitive, despite me being able to dominate the combos without conscious thought. For me personally it's just not an engaging experience, and there is no level of escapism or immersion.

Just recently I looked at a thread saying "why do people hate modern warfare." And its pretty much the same thing here.. I don't really like Modern Warfare, but i am pretty big fan of Bad Company Two. They play rather similar, and are plagued with many of the same issues. (IE. The way players abuse the mechanics, and that you have no hope of getting away from your opponents.)

Some things just are the way they are my friend. And some opinions cannot be defeated with logic, or properly conveyed with words. Put simply, some things just don't click for some people.

 

[Dr.Panties]

Opinions are simliar to farts, in that only my own are pleasant.

 

[AperioContra]

Well, this is an argument almost everybody is guilty of for various reasons. Personally, I've used it against a person who commented on a new possible scientific discovery with a dismissive "Who cares?" Which to me felt a little bit like trolling.

I can understand the resent toward the argument, as it is in many cases intellectually vacuous, but on the other hand when confronted with people who cannot be dealt with by reason, sometimes you have to go for the measure. Then again, there are the times in which one have very solid gripes that you didn't have a problem with in the game and logically there is no defense, just "I liked it, you didn't."