An opinion is a subjective viewpoint, formed by an individual upon the back of the circumstance and knowledge they reside upon at any one time. Opinions differ from person to person, because, as the old adadge goes 'no two people are alike'. We are only able to truly base our opinions on the experiences and obstacles that have crossed our path.
A fitness fanatic, used to regular exercise and an athletic lifestyle would lay scorn upon those who have more of a weight issue, unable to emphaphise with a situation that, to them, is completely alien. So can this opinion really be construed as 'correct'.
The human race, by nature, are very opinionated. Our experiences shape our beliefs, and our beliefs then shape our experiences. Effectively a vicious circle. A staunchly middle class man, who has worked his whole life and payed taxes for the duration of that time is likely to hold those who claim benefits in a fairly low regard. He does not know the circumstance that has lead someone 'sign on', it is simply an opinion formed from the resentment he feels towards the percieved 'idleness' his taxes are funding.
Again, this is a judgement fueled by a very different individual who has lived his whole life in very different circumstances, unable to empathise with an all-together alien world. It is not right, but cannot be dismissed either.
This leads on to the crux of the issue. Can opinion really be construed as 'correct or 'incorrect'? No, no it cant as all opinions are correct, no matter how left field they may appear. Opinions are simply the response of an individual judjing events based on the circumstance in which they have lived their lives. As they encounter an alterior environment opinions become distorted, or even reverse. We can only make judgments upon what we know.
How can we disregard the view of the fitness fanatic who has lived his whole live with an active lifestlye when he fails to understand those who live sedentary lives?
Or the middle class man who resents the unemployed because of his perception of the injustice that his taxes are funding such a lifestyle when he has never experienced life on the breadline?
For they are simply judgements brought about through ignorance. They are two individuals forming an opinion based upon the life that they have lead, and applying it to an alien situation. In both situations the judgement that has been passed is 'correct' as it forms a response to the assimilation of a life's experiences.
Is it wrong to encourage such hasty judgements based purely on ignorance?; well maybe but if the human race is nothing else its judgemental, and who are we to chastise that?
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