Don't tell me your opinions are just as valid as mine.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

By all means, tell me that your opinions are *more* valid than mine. Better yet, avoid the cop-out word "valid", and explain why your opinion is right and mine is wrong. I am not omniscient, and if you can set out a coherent case why I am wrong about something, and you are right, then you are doing me a favour.

But if you disagree with me about something that isn't wholly subjective[1], then the only way our opinions can be equally valid is if we are both wrong. If I am not wrong about something, then everyone who disagrees with me is wrong, and their opinion is not "valid", conversely, if someone who disagrees with me is right then I must be wrong.

"No man ought to write at all, or even to speak at all, unless he thinks that he is in truth and the other man in error." - G. K. Chesterton




[1] Obviously, it's possible for there to be multiple worthwhile opinions about subjective matters, like which of Shakespeare's plays is the best, or whether car racing is better than basketball. But most of the arguments on DU don't fall into that category.

[Buzz Clik]

1. Our opinions on this matter differ.

But our opinions are equally valid.

[Sherman A1]

9. Precisely

That however, is just my opinion.

[MoonRiver]

2. ...

[rogerashton]

3. It is wrong ...

“It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone to believe anything on insufficient evidence.”

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-belief/#OriDeb

[TexasProgresive]

4. The world today is overly filled with opinions

Opinions are OK as long as there are real facts to back them up. Too much opinion is baseless and is best described by this adage, "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has them and they all stink."

Unless an opinion is based upon reality, then they are all just a load of bilge water.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. An argument can be valid yet false

Validity only means that an argument meets internal conditions for relationships between premises and conclusions. That's Logic 101 day 1.

That said, I agree with your point here: sometimes, a position is simply wrong, and squishy sentiments about "valid opinions" obstructs the hard work of democratic deliberation.

[PowerToThePeople]

6. META? n/t

[99Forever]

7. Yup.

Your opinion on this META OP is completely valid.

[PowerToThePeople]

8. My opinion