Poll: Getting upset over opinions.

[Eric the Orange]

Often times I'll see people here as in other places get upset if someones opinion disagrees with theirs. This being a gaming website it's usually along the lines of "he insulted a game I love, to the defensive!". Which always confused me, everyone has got there own opinion, why do people feel the need to defend there opinion against differing opinions.

The most well known example, around here anyway is Yahtzees famous SSBB review.

It's doubly true because most people a attached to there opinions, and arguing against them wont change there mind. It will just prompt them to argue back, escalating into the well known "flame war".

Of coarse some people have the bad habit of stating there opinions as facts(or maybe they're just so arrogant they don't know the difference). Usually when this is done it's done with a lot of bile and anger(Public service announcement: don't post angry). Often times, this leads to harsher backlash, and worse flaming. Responding to comments like this is pretty much the equivalent to troll feeding.

Now discussion of opinions is fine, as long as neither side feels insulted or tries to change the others mind.

 

[Dragon_of_red]

Well... it just seems to be, that people who defend there game think that the other person is either being a dic kabout it, or being smug about it. Now i will defend games that i love (FFXII, TimeSplitters) But whenever i do that, i try and be cicilized about it without sounded like too much of a dick.

If we could all do that it would be a much nicer place.

 

[Supreme Unleaded]

I just really, REALLY hate it when someones opinion is fueled by arrogance and stupidity. Xbots have got to be the worste (no offence to the seemingly decressing amount of normal xbox players) for their opinions are, as you said,"fact", and the stupidity just bugs the shit out of me.

 

[Skeleon]

Of coarse some people have the bad habit of stating there opinions as facts(or maybe they're just so arrogant they don't know the difference). Usually when this is done it's done with a lot of bile and anger(Public service announcement: don't post angry). Often times, this leads to harsher backlash, and worse flaming. Responding to comments like this is pretty much the equivalent to troll feeding.

This I don't really get.
Unless you're stating something about, say, science, religion, politics and so on as fact without evidence to support it, that shouldn't matter.

If I say...
"Sacrifice is the best game evahr!" [sub](Got to sneak a little advertisement in there...)[/sub]
...then that's obviously my opinion. I'm the one stating it. I'm not quoting anybody, I'm not providing any sources. I'm not showing any evidence.
People should be smart enough to understand that. Yes, even if I say "Halo is average at best", the same still applies.

As for the stuff in the first paragraph, that's a completely different story. But your OP sounded like it wasn't primarily about that kind of thing but more about gaming.

 

[end_boss]

I know this isn't always the case, but a good rule of thumb to follow is that people are naturally inclined to reciprocate. For every action, there is an equal opposite reaction.

If you post an opinion and the other person replies with points as to why they disagree, then it is a respectful comparison/debate between tastes. Nothing wrong with that.

The problem arises when one of them breaks out a reply that suggests that the other is objectively wrong in their opinion, or if one attributes the other's opinion as being the product of an inferior intellect.

For me personally, I do enjoy a good debate, but not all debates are equal. I like comparing points. I like getting into an argument where I can defend my points intelligently and have the "opponent" do the same. As a result, I will sometimes express my opinions by presenting them as "fact." Deep down inside, this isn't because I feel the other person has no right to their opinion, but I find that sometimes, when you present your side too loosely, no discussion arises from it, and your post just gets lost in the sea of everybody else's post-n-go style.

 

[end_boss]

I just really, REALLY hate it when someones opinion is fueled by arrogance and stupidity. Xbots have got to be the worste (no offence to the seemingly decressing amount of normal xbox players) for their opinions are, as you said,"fact", and the stupidity just bugs the shit out of me.

It's funny to read this. Having worked at a video game store in the past, my personal experiences have actually shown the Sony fanboys/girls to be the most stubborn and self-deluded. Out of the people I know, the X-Box gamers are the ones who are passive and casual, and just want to play to have fun.

Not saying you're wrong, just observing how different the groups can be from place to place.

 

[badgersprite]

Some people have such a sense of self-entitlement (perhaps from constantly being told how 'special' they are) that they interpret any signs of disagreement with their opinion as a personal attack against them - also known as Kanye West syndrome. Har har har hilarious laughter.

 

[Eric the Orange]

Of coarse some people have the bad habit of stating there opinions as facts(or maybe they're just so arrogant they don't know the difference). Usually when this is done it's done with a lot of bile and anger(Public service announcement: don't post angry). Often times, this leads to harsher backlash, and worse flaming. Responding to comments like this is pretty much the equivalent to troll feeding.

This I don't really get.
Unless you're stating something about, say, science, religion, politics and so on as fact without evidence to support it, that shouldn't matter.

If I say...
"Sacrifice is the best game evahr!" [sub](got to sneak a little advertisement in there...)[/sub]
...then that's obviously my opinion. I'm the one stating it. I'm not quoting anybody, I'm not providing any sources. I'm not showing any evidence.
People should be smart enough to understand that. Yes, even if I say "Halo is average at best", the same still applies.

As for the stuff in the first paragraph, that's a completely different story. But your OP sounded like it wasn't primarily about that kind of thing but more about gaming.

Well mainly gaming because this, as a gaming website, will be the most common around here. And thus relate-able to everyone who posts a reply.

As for the stating opinions as facts, I was more referring to when someone acts like theirs is the only right opinion. For example I seem to remember a response to Movie Bobs review of Star Trek being along the lines of "You obviously have no taste in good movies". Now whether you agree with him or not, it was bobs opinion. So by posting something like that, it seems to me that he thought anyone disagreeing with his opinion was wrong. Thus he thought his opinion was a fact.

 

[A.A.K]

when it comes to people getting pissed over opinions or having a go at others for opinions, i think they should just shut the f*ck up and leave it alone. we've started a topic to know what you think and to find out your opinions.
If for example ive started a topic about the idea of islam and catholicism, i just want the idea of islam and catholicism and im assuming the escapist would be interested to hear about it aswell. But the moment someone starts a flame war or has a go at someone because of it, it ruins everything.........

see my point?

 

[SirPercival41]

Opinion is all we have, facts are facts by proof and proof is perceived. Perception is an atribute of the mind, and the mind then analyzes it's information. The analysis can only be opinion, as minds do not dictate reality. Opinion is most acceptably defined as a belief, and if you believe in facts than facts are your opinions. That's all our social world is, what our minds collectively create through communication.

This defends no point, but simply offers a different perspective. Perhaps facts are not so factual as you perceive them to be? Then perhaps stating an opinion as fact is no different than the fact itself in the long run. But in the end the most fit realize that it does not matter, the opinion of others, because in the end there is death. What matters, is what is satisfied and learned before that. Then take what you will beyond those gates of death.

But our social structure is acceptable for the time being and I understand it and flow through it fluently. I know what everyone means when they throw these words around, I just wanted to put in my two cents.

 

[Skeleon]

The point about "You obviously have no taste in good movies".

Well, okay, this I agree with.
But that's a different thing, that's directed at another person, not at the object in question.

I think it's definitely fair to state your opinion on, say, a movie, book or game as fact (because everybody should realise it's your personal opinion), but you cannot baselessly attack somebody because you disagree with their opinion on such a thing.

Now that you've explained more clearly what you mean, I certainly agree with you.

 

[irishdelinquent]

People are entitled to be upset over the opinions of others. That is called their opinion. And as we all know, opinions are like a**holes....everybody has one.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Just to point out, you spelled "oipinions" (Opinions) wrong.

OT: Because we're human, we have more flaws then a Mop purchased at a $2 store, we simply say what we think might be right or truth etc. Sometimes we're right, most times misunderstand one another, and in such cases as religion topics, ends up turning into a bible-bash between each persons believes and generating into a flame war with more fire then Mario can shoot at a Woomba.

 

[CK76]

I enjoy discussions, but arguments or flame wars are a waste of time to me. People can say what they will, I or anyone else do not have to listen or be bothered.

 

[end_boss]

As for the stating opinions as facts, I was more referring to when someone acts like theirs is the only right opinion. For example I seem to remember a response to Movie Bobs review of Star Trek being along the lines of "You obviously have no taste in good movies". Now whether you agree with him or not, it was bobs opinion. So by posting something like that, it seems to me that he thought anyone disagreeing with his opinion was wrong. Thus he thought his opinion was a fact.

Yeah, I've had some people throw that one at me, as well. It pisses me off, but sometimes I fall into that as well, depending on the situation. There are varying degrees.

For example, I did enjoy the movie Napoleon Dynamite, and found that it was a source of some great humour, even if its merits as a movie plot can be debated in either direction. The person who disagreed with me suggested that my taste in movies was flawed for not recognizing that Napoleon Dynamite apparently had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. They were actually trying to tell me that there was no humour to the movie, and the fact that I found it funny was WRONG.

However, if somebody came up to me and told me that Amadeus and The Godfather (my two favourite movies of all time) were terrible movies because they had stupid stories, bad characters, worse acting, and looked like shit, then I'd imagine that I might have enough fuel to suggest that their opinion just might be provably wrong.

It depends on the situation, is the long and short of it. I'm not above being dragged into a flamewar from time to time. I can be pretty stubborn, sometimes. LOL

 

[Eric the Orange]

Just to point out, you spelled "oipinions" (Opinions) wrong.

OT: Because we're human, we have more flaws then a Mop purchased at a $2 store, we simply say what we think might be right or truth etc. Sometimes we're right, most times misunderstand one another, and in such cases as religion topics, ends up turning into a bible-bash between each persons believes and generating into a flame war with more fire then Mario can shoot at a Woomba.

You spelled "woomba" (goomba) wrong .

 

[Eric the Orange]

People are entitled to be upset over the opinions of others. That is called their opinion. And as we all know, opinions are like a**holes....everybody has one.

Very true, but I'm not so much complaining about them being upset, but rather what they do about it. In fact I'm not even saying that they shouldn't do that, just that it bothers me when they do. And that's my opinion.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Just to point out, you spelled "oipinions" (Opinions) wrong.

OT: Because we're human, we have more flaws then a Mop purchased at a $2 store, we simply say what we think might be right or truth etc. Sometimes we're right, most times misunderstand one another, and in such cases as religion topics, ends up turning into a bible-bash between each persons believes and generating into a flame war with more fire then Mario can shoot at a Woomba.

You spelled "woomba" (goomba) wrong .

Damn... They're onto me... Think Zai....

WOOMBA!

Spoiler

 

[TheBarefootBandit]

Incidently, I think people take forums WAY to seriously and can't tell the difference between a flame and an arguement.

Its quite annoying to have some annoying little troll who's probably a 12 year old brat with a thesaurus on your ass, telling you your immature or your arguement's made of string and silly putty, painted with bullshit.

You tell them Colonel Kenpachi...

 

[Nazulu]

Everybody feels strongly about something and feels the need to defend it, if they go over-board it just shows they haven't had much experience having a proper argument. If you can stay calm while defending your opinion with out calling them names then there shouldn't be any problems.

Everybody has the right to defend their opinion.