Here's what I think

[clevermanka]

I learned an important lesson this week! I'm going to put it in most general terms because I think it's applicable no matter what the issue. Basically, in order to avoid looking like a jerk, don't form an opinion based on just one article. If you're not interested enough in the issue to read more than one article about it, you needn't have an opinion about it. It isn't necessary to have an opinion about everything.

Comments

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

I don't have opinions about lots of things. It is much easier.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That squirrel is adorable.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I can see how it's a sound policy and I have already begun to implement it!

[write-out.livejournal.com]

So true and a lesson worth relearning myself.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Self-knowledge is a never-ending learning experience. YAY!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

It does feel really good to own one's own shit, doesn't it?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

After a little bit, yeah. The first fifteen minutes of embarrassment are pretty shitty, though. =D

[1-rhiannon-1.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a pretty good policy to go with.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[1-rhiannon-1.livejournal.com]

Completely off-topic, I know, but I was wondering if your laser printer was able to be saved?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

The repair guy is supposed to come out either Friday or (more likely) Monday. He's pretty sure he can fix it. Won't be cheap, but at least the suspected broken part is still being manufactured!

[1-rhiannon-1.livejournal.com]

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it'll be fixed!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Fifteen isn't bad. I had to suffer overnight until I could apologize to a woman at work with whom I'd made an offhand remark that I later realized could have been racist. I was MORTIFIED.
Thankfully, she was very kind when I approached her, and said it was fine, that she didn't take it that way, but wow, .. I was so embarrassed.

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

Well gee. Speaking from a generalized position, I'm not sure I agree with you. Sometimes we just know how we feel about things. Other times it's kinda hard NOT to form an opinion, and then there's that little thing that happens where between not having an opinion and having your FINAL opinion, you have other sort of interim opinions because you're not "there" yet.

Also, you could form an opinion after reading a whole shit ton of stuff and later realize that your position was still forming.

As long as you don't act like you have all the answers, as long as you situate your response, it is OK to have one that's wrong or one that's still green.

It's OK to be wrong. As long as you're not an ass about it, I'm sure folks don't care. If they do, maybe some other stuff needs to get reconsidered.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I see where you're coming from, but I'd say a lot of times when people "just know how they feel," and stick with that even though facts show otherwise. Because that "just knowing how you feel" can come from a very bad place (racist/sexist/whateverist upbringing).

Other times it's kinda hard NOT to form an opinion

I think those are especially the times to be careful. If I have a knee-jerk reaction to something without investigating it further or questioning my own feelings on the issue, I gotta be really careful that I don't wind up in that "I just know how I feel" place.

you could form an opinion after reading a whole shit ton of stuff and later realize that your position was still forming

And that's an excellent way to go about things, IMO.

[the-lucky-nun.livejournal.com]

omg