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?

Got ya. That's basically what we were trying to say in the training course- we felt it was relevant to the report that we record what mum said, of course we would bear in mind that she could be lying.

Mum could be lying, and she could also be mistaken, which is why it's important to corroborate the facts.
I think you were right, OP, and the course tutor needs a better set of examples, and to use ore precise language!

A fact is something that can be tested and proven true or false.

An opinion is a person's feeling on the subject, it cannot be proven as true or not because it is a feeling.

Fact: Bananas are a fruit.
Opinion: Bananas taste gross.

The mother is either stating a fact, or is lying.

A lie is not an opinion. It is a lie.

Bulbasaur I don't think your penultimate sentence is right.

In the example, the mother said her daughter didn't eat the sweets.
The mother could also be honestly mistaken which would mean that her statement is not a fact or a lie. She is just wrong.

but it still remains a fact that the mother said it. :)
That isn't opinion, or a lie, or wrong - the content of what she said might be, but the fact that she said it is still a fact.

Ha yes Thumb I suppose you're right, however unless she said it TO ME I'd still not be convinced! We're suspicious types you know!
Anyhoo I doubt the veracity of whether she said anything about her daughter eating the sweets is in question, I imagine it was a poorly worded attempt to get them to think about third hand reports/hearsay etc

OP can you tell us what happened to the sweets?! Who ate them?! This is like that did-she-eat-the-chicken-burger-from-KFC thread...

Definitely a fact about an opinoon.

What if it was a case of slander or libel? Then what the mum said is the fact that needs to be proven even if what she said is untrue. Unless she made it clear it was her opinion.

'The Daily Mail said "Immigrants are just here for our benefits" '

That is a fact. They did say that. But it is their opinion.

'The sun said "David Cameron had anal sex with Boris on Saturday" ' . Said as a statement of fact. This can be proven or not. Boris could sue The Sun.

'

IMO

hotfuzz I hate to tell you this, but I don't know what happened to the sweets. Like you said, it was an attempt to get us to think about third hand reports and hearsay. We weren't given the answers.

Redshifter can the sun now sue you for libel/slander (forget which is which) because you said that they said that DC had anal sex with BJ on Saturday?

Dagnammit, well I'll have to eat some sweets myself now, at least we'll know who ate them then!