Fact or opinion?

[CrohnicallyPissedOff]

During a training course, we had to identify whether statements were fact or opinion. I had a slight disagreement with the course leader over this one- 'Mum said that her daughter didn't eat the sweets'

One of us said that the statement was an opinion, because the truth of whether the daughter ate the sweets could not be corroborated by the observer, therefore it couldn't be considered fact.

The other said that the statement was fact, because mum did say that, and her saying it could be corroborated, regardless of whether mum was telling the truth or not.

Which of us is BU?

I would say it is a fact as in the mum said something - it doesnt matter what she said, just that she said it.

I agree with the second.

But is anything really fact? What if it was a hallucination or dream, and it's not reality at all?

It is a fact that the mother stated that her daughter didn't eat the sweets.

It may or may nor be true that she ate the sweets, but it couldn't possibly be someone's opinion that she ate the sweets, she either did or she didn't.

I'd say it was a fact.

I'm wearing black leggings and have just eaten a Penguin biscuit in a red wrapper.

These are facts- whether or not you can or want to check them.

I would say this is a fact and is referring to what the mum said not is she was speaking the truth. It could have easily said mum said that her daughter was five years old, ginger or from mars.

Opinion.

I am guessing you are saying it is a fact and yes you are right.

But I also guess that you were neing a little more pedantic than necessary, and that in the spirit of the other examples the 'correct' answer was opinion. Although it was a fact.

I guess it depends whether by statement they meant the mother's statement or the statement as a whole

If I am making any sense. I just wouldn't bother dwelling on the injustice though!

It's a fact about an opinion.

Agree with I love. It's a fact because the mum did say something. What she said is irrelevant.

The statement the mum's made wouldn't be an opinion anyway. Its either a true or false and until you know is an unproven statement. Opinions refer to how you feel about something.

mum* not mum's

I would say it was a fact - the mum did say that, even if it wasn't true.

It is a fact at the mother described an action.

It is a fact. The Mum said - what she said is irrelevant :)

It is a fact. You are stating what the mother said.

If the mother said it, then it is a fact that the mother said it. So if the question was is it a fact that the mother said this, then the answer is yes. But if the question was is the statement made by the mother factual, in which case the answer is that there is not enough evidence to make that determination, if the person to whom she said it did not witness the event.

It's a fact, the mum said that. Whether it's true or not that the girl ate the sweets is a matter of opinion without witnesses.

If the mother said it directly to the person, that is. It can still not be proven to be a fact if the person has only been told that the mother said it, but did not hear her say it themselves.

It is a fact that it's a poorly worded example to give to illustrate the point of the training course!

You're right, what mum said is a fact.
Course leader kinda right even though example was craply worded, because you know it's a bit pedantic really... (in my opinion, obviously!)

This is the most boring thread on mumsnet

Fact!

Or...... Opinion?

Come on then OP - it's seeming pretty unanimous, so now you need to come back and tell us whether you are triumphant or eating crow...

Brave I don't know which one's more tedious; this one or the one about the teenage DD who doesn't want to go barefoot for PE.

if she doesn't come back, we'll know

Sorry for the late reply, I went in the bath!

Yes, you guessed it, I was the one who said 'fact'. So it looks like I am right... but I may have been pedantic.

knackered and squirrels In my defence, from the context it wasn't clear if I was being pedantic or not. Before the course leader gave the 'correct' answers, I was convinced I was right, and wasn't trying to catch the leader out or argue for the sake of arguing or anything like that. Though once the course leader told me I was wrong, I may have refused to accept it and argued a little.

Who cares!

Most boring thread ever.

Oh Lulu charming as ever :)

Chron you were right to argue