Facts vs opinions

There is a saying I once heard or read somewhere, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.”

I’ve never stopped anyone from voicing out their opinions. Sometimes I challenge that opinion. Sometimes I disagree with that opinion. But it’s their opinion and they’re entitled to it.

But opinions should be on the basis of facts. For example, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been replaced with the Sales and Service Tax (SST). This is a fact. Which is better, GST or SST? This is an opinion.

So I get irritated when people distort facts or worse, present opinions as if it’s a fact. They don’t bother to fact check something from the source before saying it. They just say it without a care in the world. Some, when confronted with the real facts, will just say “Oh, really? I read it on WhatsApp.” WhatsApp is NOT a source of information! Some, unfortunately, will still argue and stand their ground even when faced with unequivocal evidence to the contrary.

I shouldn’t get irritated with these people. After all, those are the limits of their knowledge and their thinking capacity, and what can I do if they refuse to grow, to question, to analyse, to think logically? It’s not my job to set them straight; it’s not my job to judge.

I do have a choice, though. I can choose to ignore the white noise. I can choose to walk away. Better still, I can choose to have an opinion about these people. Right or wrong, it’s my own opinion and I’m entitled to it.