So, surprise, surprise … we all have opinions.

Some are as harmless as debating the best flavour of ice cream, while others touch on more substantial matters like climate change, moral justice, or various scientific theories.

But what exactly constitutes an opinion, and how much weight should we assign to them?

Let's begin by taking a trip back to ancient Greece, where the wise philosopher Plato noted that opinions are beliefs that lack the certainty of knowledge.

In other words, they're just our personal views on a matter, without the solid foundation of evidence or reasoning to back them up.

Of course, this does not mean that personal views are outlawed.  Without personal opinions we would all fall into the trap of “Group Think”.

Rather, the key takeaway is that opinions often don’t have any solid evidence or logical reasoning to back them up. And therefore we cannot just accept opinions at face value as being correct.

We're all entitled to our own thoughts and perspective; that's what makes us human, after all. But it should be clear that not all opinions are created equal.

Consider, for example, the matter of taste. When it comes to matters of personal preference, like favourite colours, music genres, or flavours of food, there's no right or wrong answer. If you happen to prefer mint chocolate over raspberry pie, who am I, or anyone else, to argue?

Taste is subjective, and what appeals to one person may not appeal to another. So nothing wrong here.

But then there are opinions that touch on more substantive matters such as climate change, justice, or scientific theories for example. Here opinions affect not just individuals, but can also affect entire communities or even the planet as a whole if the opinion comes from a highly influential individual.

This is arguably a way in which various cults are born.

So when it comes to these more substantive matters, enthusiastic amateurs should tread lightly.

For example, when it comes to matters of science it's not enough to simply have a hunch or a gut feeling. You need solid evidence and rigorous analysis to back up your claims.

And when it comes to matters of law or public policy you need a deep understanding of the complexities involved and the potential implications of your stance.

That's not to say that enthusiastic amateurs shouldn't voice their opinions on these matters. They absolutely should. But they shouldn't be surprised when their views are met with skepticism or scrutiny.

In a modern, digital world where misinformation and half-truths abound, it's even more important to approach contentious issues with humility and a willingness to engage in reasoned debate.

So, how do we navigate this minefield of varying personal opinions without stepping on too many toes?

Well, for starters, we can acknowledge the limitations of our own knowledge and expertise (See the blog article “Are You Ignorant About Your Own Ignorance” - https://www.an-inspired-you.com/blog/ignorant-about-your-ignorance).

Just because we have an opinion on a matter doesn't mean we're automatically right. Sometimes, it's okay to admit that we don't have all the answers.

Secondly, we can strive to be open-minded and receptive to new information and perspectives. Just because someone disagrees with us doesn't mean they're automatically wrong.

Sometimes, they might have insights or experiences that we haven't considered.

And finally, we can approach discussions about contentious issues with civility and respect. It's easy to get caught up in heated debates and personal attacks, but at the end of the day, we're all just trying to make sense of the world around us.

So, sometimes, we have to just agree to disagree. And that is ok.

Life is too complex for even the smartest among us to grasp everything.  And life is definitely too short to take ourselves, and our opinions, too seriously.

So the next time you find yourself tempted to declare, "Everyone is Entitled to my Opinion," just remember that sometimes it's okay to let someone else have the last word.

Especially if it's about the best flavour of ice cream.

Until next time, may you enjoy a double thick, peanut butter milkshake which is undoubtedly the best.

Dion Le Roux