atw: Re: Opinions stated as facts


----- Original Message -----
From: Ros Byrne <ros.byrne@xxxxxxx>
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 09:02:49 +1100
Subject: atw: Opinions stated as facts

> Recent discussion on the list seems to have been more inflammatory
than 
> it needed to be because of a problem called *Fact-Opinion
Confusion* 
> (aka Opinions Stated as Facts).
> 
> In my teaching area (written AND non-written communication), this
is 
> recognised as one of the causes of 'pseudo-conflict'.
> 
> Good news is that it's easily remedied by two techniques:
> 
> 1      carefully labelling opinions as opinions (eg 'IMHO', or 'my view
on 
> this is...')

Forgive me, but I've never understood this as meaning anything other
than:
"I'm not confident of this..."   Or  ""Gee I hope you'll still like
me after 
I say this..."

Either that, or it's some sort of attempt to ward off ventriloquism
or 
something similar. 

I don't really see that there's any alternative interpretation of my
saying 
something other than that I am stating my opinion.   I really don't
assume that when I say something that people are likely to think I am
stating someone else's opinion, and intend to do so, unless I
specifically claim to be some sort of proxy.... 

(Apart from satire, sarcasm etc -- which is another issue...)  

For example, if I start by saying:  "I love you Ros" but then qualify
it by 
saying  "IMHO, I love you Ros"  I'd suggest you'd think I'm a bit of
a jerk.

(Like: who else's opinion is likely to be involved or relevant ?) 

The problem is simpler:  when people want to generalise, they have to
realise 
their generalisations are at least open to challenge and
contradiction. 
Particularly on this list.

And arguments then start. But arguments and conflicts of ideas are of
the very essence of our society and democracy.  

Only silly Anglo-Saxon "propriety" suggests otherwise. (aka "We don't
discuss
religion or politics") 

No. The biggest problems come not from opinions or argument itself,
but argument ad hominem, or argument by false attribution. 

IMHO,  IMHO is a bit namby-pamby and equivocal.  

(And probably a bit Pommy into the bargain. 

And  those who use it are, too, SO THERE!   :-)   )

Testing.... testing.... 

--Peter M 


 
  



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