Internet pet peeve #718: Express opinion, get reaction as if you insisted on enforcing said opinion

[Silent3]

Many of you know what I'm taking about. Some of you are the people who do this annoying thing... and I wish you'd stop.

I might say I don't care much for country music. Expressing this opinion does not imply, or even mildly hint, that I want to ban country music stations, arrest people for singing about pickup trucks and girls in blue jeans, or in anyway interfere with anyone's ability to enjoy this form of entertainment.

I might say I think many people in sports are paid way too much for what they do. This does not mean I do not understand the market forces that lead to these exorbitant salaries, that people don't have a right to earn that much money if they find a way to do it, or that I intend to support or push for legislation that would change the situation.

I do not like monarchy. Wishing it would go away and forcing it to go away in countries that aren't even my own country are two entirely different things.

For those who can't help but react as if any opinion expressed in coming from a desire to insistently force a change in the world based on that opinion, is there any help I can provide to make that distinction clearer for you in the future?

[Srkdqltr]

1. So you get to Express your opinions and everyone else should be silent? That's going to happen,

Never

[Silent3]

2. This has nothing to do with getting no response

Of course people can and should comment.

The annoyance is all about comments that totally misinterpret what's being said... uh, much as you just did here.

Where, oh where, in the content of my OP is the idea of other people being having to be silent if they disagree even slightly hinted at?

Do you understand how to disagree with an opinion without reacting as if the person expressing the opinion was attempting to enforce something?

[Mister Ed]

5. This really is a perfect example of what the OP complained about. n/t

[kcr]

12. The OP is about precisely the opposite

I think it's a manipulative distortion meant to shut down discussion when people do what the OP is talking about.

[paleotn]

3. Personally, I wouldn't mind outlawing country music.

I grew up in Nashville, and such close proximity bred intense contempt. But, hey, that's just me. Listen to whatever you like.

[Comfortably_Numb]

4. I was drunk, the day my mom, got out of prison.... think, we would have missed this gem.

[Silent3]

6. I supposed pushing me hard to change my mind...

...about outlawing something doesn't go against the spirit of this thread.

[Comfortably_Numb]

8. Not for me friend... shout your point from the rooftops. I think "Hee Haw" should be

In constant reruns, but be designated as a superfund site...

[StatWoman]

7. Related peeve: Predict something will happen, get accused of advocating for it to happen

"I think Senator XXX is going to lose in State Y".

"Why are you against Senator XXX?!?"

[Silent3]

9. Loose lips sink and/or raise ships

As soon as election time rolls around 60% of people on DU think if you say something at all negative about the chances of a candidate winning, you are contributing to that candidates loss by discouraging voters.

Another 60% think if you say something at all positive about the chances of a candidate winning, you are contributing to that candidates loss by making voters not bother to vote, because they'll believe the candidate doesn't need their vote anymore.

This adds up to more than 100% because some people think both things at the same time, resulting in significant overlap.

[StatWoman]

11. LOL!

And, aside from the cognitive dissonance, there's an underlying assumption that the type of voter who reacts this way is also hanging out in Left Blogistan.

(However, to the second 60%, I think we all have post traumatic election disorder from 2016.)

[Srkdqltr]

10. Well, people post memes or 3rd person rants then when I react the say "I'm just posting this because

Someone posted it on mine. I get blasted for making a comment back. Can't win.

[struggle4progress]

13. "But why should I be confined to an alligator-infested re-education camp,

fed moldy weavil-infested bread, forced to sleep on broken glass, and chased around the camp by rapid dobermans, just because I disagree with you?"