- It sucks, and it is stupid.
- What did you say?
- Oh, in my opinion, it sucks, and it is stupid.
- Aha. And do you expect any reaction to it?
- To what?
- To what you have just said.
- No, it is just my opinion.
- You just spilled it out, just like this, yes?
- Yes, what is wrong with it?
- What you did is nothing more than a good fart: loud, so that
everybody could hear it, but nobody was supposed to answer to it?
- So, what do you think I should have done?
- Oh, If you say something, your opinion, you have to know why
you are doing it: You act like a preacher hidden behind an
unchangeable dogma telling others what to do, without expecting
any reaction. Are you preaching to us here?
- No.
- If you are not preaching, then you must be prepared to take the
heat for what you say.
- What do you mean?
- Be prepared to defend your opinion.
- I can defend my opinion.
- Why would you do that?
- What?
- Defend your opinion.
- What the heck you want, again? You have just said I should
defend my opinion!
- Yes, but for what reason? To make sure that everybody thinks
like you do? Or, are you searching for truth? Do you want others
to share your opinion, or do you want others to now the truth? Is
the truth your objective? Do you want to know it?
- Yes.
- Then you must be prepared to change your mind, if you learn
something contrary to your opinion. Are you ready to change your
mind? Are you ready to stop farting around, and search for some
answers?
- Before we discuss your opinion, tell me, what is it that
would make you change your mind. Tell me what should I prove to
you, so I will not spend a lot of time giving arguments that have
no meaning for you.
- I do not know, I do not think there is anything that would
change my mind.
- So, you know the ultimate truth, and you are preaching it to us?
- No.
- So, before you express your opinion, think about it. Every
opinion that is based on facts can be changed if the facts change,
or if new facts are discovered. Opinions that cannot be changed
are not based on facts, and are not really opinions but beliefs,
or dogmas. In that case then, there is no reason for any
discussion and argument, as these rely on exchanges of supporting
facts that prove the opinion. So, if you insist on declaring
publicly your belief that by its character cannot be argued, what
you really do is nothing more then farting aloud, so everybody
can hear it, but nobody will answer it.