to think that when people say that they're entitled to thier opinion...

[AutumnSummers]

... that they are really just saying that they don't feel you're entitled to challenge it?

It happens a lot in online debates in all the forums I belong to (Yes, I'm a forum tramp!) and it really annoys me. They put an opinion up, I challenge it and then they hit back with how entitled the are to think what they want. Yes, they are. But I am equally entitled to tell them that I don't like it.

Why do people bother to say that? I'm not negating thier right to an opinion by disagreeing with it so why why WHY?!

I also find "I can say what I want, it's a public forum" tedious.

YANBU, if I question my Mum's view on something, she gets all huffy and keeps saying she's allowed her opinion.

Yes, I know you are, but I'm also allowed to question it I think she's just not got the tools to withstand debate, my GM was always very anti-debate and disagreement. Religion and politics were banned from the house, so I think DM never really learnt how to discuss them.

I think it's fair enough to challenge someone else's poinion. What isn't OK is to keep going on and on at someone with a different opinion repeating the same point over and over again as though it's a fight to the death or something and there can be only one correct answer.
Sometimes you have to agree to disagree.
I think religion is a difficult thing to discuss impartially with someone with an opposite view. I'm an atheist and there is no point discussing religion with a committed Christian. We are never going to agree and will just end up going round in circles. Fair enough if we both want to do that but if one person doesn't want to discuss their religious beliefs (or lack of them) they shouldn't have to.
That doesn't apply to internet fora though as if you didn't want to discuss a subject you should have ignored that thread.

YABU. I think anyone's entitled to challenge an opinion but, so often on these boards, people become incredibly aggressive when their challenging is resisted. They flame away like crazy, demanding the other person changes their opinion immediately, insulting their intelligence, accusing them of being delusional. If you don't want to submit to the bullying and stick to your guns, sometimes the only thing left to say is 'I'm entitled to my opinion'.... in order to shut them up.

ah, edusteg, my mother is just the same. Uses that phrases to END a conversation. Often used alongside 'my house, my rules.'

2Rebecca When in religious debate I know from the get-go that I'm not going to change any minds but it's still a fascinating subject to discuss. I like hearing other people's POV on all topics. the difficulty comes when thing get personal and people start firing insults around. It all gets a bit boring then.

Warren I know. I was joking :)

cogito I see it a lot as a first response to a challenge. And if people have nothing left to say except how entitled they are, why not say "We'll have to agree to disagree" then? I'm more likely to not reply to that than to the former because, if they say the entitled speech, I'll ask them what makes them think that by challenging them I'm saying they're not allowed to speak because that's what it looks like when they say that.

Edu Arrgghh! My Mil is the same. It is absolutely maddening. Worse when she's trying to defend over-ruling DH or I with the kids.

Edu, if MIL is trying to overrule you with the kids, then the answers is "you're entitled to your opinion about the way I bring up my children but that's as far as it goes - you're not entitled to act on it, and if you keep making me listen to your opinion you'll be seeing less of us"

But generally I like "of course you are, everyone has the right to be wrong"

Gah, Autumn, not Edu.

I think "we'll have to agree to disagree" is preferable to "I'm entitled to my opinion". Of course anyone is entitled to their opinion.

It does piss me off when someone assumes that anyone arguing against them is only doing so because they are a bad person, have bad motives, are a neanderthal recently emerged from the primeval swamp etc. Obvious ad hominem abuse or name calling doesn't worry me because to me it translates to "I have lost the argument and have nothing to say".

ExPat Al: Well certainly some "devil's advocates" may bear an uncanny resemblance to Lucifer himself. Sometimes though I think it can be interesting to pursue an argument regardless of whether you really agree with it, just to see where it leads. "Getting inside" an opposing argument may help in arguing your own position.

Bertha I use words to that effect every time she tries it. She doesn't actually get to over rule us but doesn't stop her trying! Again. And again...! I don''t mind. It reinforces to the kids that they have to listen to us over other people and follow our rules, not hers.

another from the " well yes you're entitled to your opinion but that doesn't mean you're entitled to have it respected." camp

That just makes you sound like a patronising pillock. Do you actually say that to people in real life?

ohhhh I need to try out my new name and 'patronising pillock' really caught my eye. Nothing to add yet!

oh dear, I see this thread has melted Warrens brain. I'll step away, new name tested..............

i like playing devils advocate at times :) i do nto do it to be mean, just to disagree and put forward a different point of view.

some just do not know how to debate and want everyone to agree with them and get most upset when many do not. this happens all the time with some debates what is wrong with the word coloured

I think yabu. I think on many forums (and on here) the challenger often expects the Op to change their opinion to agree with them, since obviously they think they're right.
"I'm entitled to my opinion" is often just a way of saying just because you're patronising and shouty, doesn't mean you're right and doesn't mean I have to disregard my opinion and agree with you.

The thing is mayor quinby, peoPle who are genuinely that patronising are generally universally disliked IRL, so I suspect any feelings of superiority those thoughts give you are a bit misguided.

Serenity what you've written is why, particularly when in a heated debate, I often (annoyingly) feel the need to qualify it with something like, "I appreciate that others think differently." or something to that effect. People are often way too quick to see an opposing view as a slight to thier right to speak.

People who get shouty and superior are usually just employing the classic tactic of trying to belittle someone in order to make them stop arguing thier point. It reeks of desperation and shows that they've obviously run out of a good counter but it still doesn't mean that they're saying that you aren't allowed your opinion. They're just trying to intimidate you into not sharing it any further.

Why not just point this out to them instead of insinuating that they've said you're not entitled to an opinion? I've had to do that lots when confronted by those hiding behind vitriol to conceal a weak argument and when I do I usually end the post with a bit about how I'll not be further trying to have a reasoned discussion with someone with the debating skills of George Bush Jnr.

"The thing is mayor quinby, peoPle who are genuinely that patronising are generally universally disliked IRL, so I suspect any feelings of superiority those thoughts give you are a bit misguided."

It's reserved for the "i call a spade a spade" etc low level bigots. no problem with being disliked by them or being thought of as patronising by them.

i think i'm getting to the point now where i can't be arsed reading everyone's 'opnions' life really is too short.

there are only two opinions, mine and wrong ones