To think that not all opinions deserve respect?

HangryPoster · 2025-03-30T18:47:24+00:00

We’re always told to be tolerant but some opinions are just plain stupid. Why should I pretend otherwise?

GammonAndEgg · 30/03/2025 19:48

You don’t have to agree with the opinion but surely you can respect someone’s right to hold it, however stupid?

GreenWheat · 30/03/2025 19:48

Oh God yes, some people spout utter tripe and need to be ignored.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 30/03/2025 19:50

Who has told you you should pretend?

I think there's a way to say an opinion is stupid and there's a way not to. Maybe that's the respect thing?

I really disagree with that view, because ...

V

You fucking twat what a big pile of wank you talk

Overtheatlantic · 30/03/2025 19:51

Don’t pretend but don’t be Kemi Badenoch either.

MothersDayLieIn · 30/03/2025 20:05

Well OP, do you believe that opinion deserves respect? Why?

LoveSandbanks · 30/03/2025 20:07

how can you respect the views of a flat earther? Or a racist? I struggle to respect the views of an antivaxxer tbh but I’d try not to show it. I’m not respecting someone’s homophobia!

ComtesseDeSpair · 30/03/2025 20:12

How do you know an opinion is stupid until you’ve engaged with it, given it some thought, tried to see where the holder of the opinion might be originating from and why they might hold that opinion, and evaluated it in aggregate?

Respecting opinions doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing with them or thinking they are right, but giving their basis critical thought and acknowledging somebody’s reason for holding them. Dismissing what somebody else thinks immediately purely because they don’t think the same as you do is essentially living in an echo chamber.

NeelyOHara1 · 30/03/2025 20:13

YABU I think, as the stance that engaging with someone with views you might find offensive is tantamount to giving those views credence and therefore justifies ignoring and castigating, has proven to be a supremely unhelpful tactic.

SouthLondonMum22 · 30/03/2025 20:15

Of course not all opinions deserve respect.

I don't respect racist opinions
I don't respect homophobic opinions
I don't respect sexist opinions

and on and on...

Leafy74 · 30/03/2025 20:15

ComtesseDeSpair · 30/03/2025 20:12

How do you know an opinion is stupid until you’ve engaged with it, given it some thought, tried to see where the holder of the opinion might be originating from and why they might hold that opinion, and evaluated it in aggregate?

Respecting opinions doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing with them or thinking they are right, but giving their basis critical thought and acknowledging somebody’s reason for holding them. Dismissing what somebody else thinks immediately purely because they don’t think the same as you do is essentially living in an echo chamber.

Edited

God women really are stupid!

ComtesseDeSpair · 30/03/2025 20:21

Leafy74 · 30/03/2025 20:15

God women really are stupid!

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Which is a good example. Your opinion is that women are stupid. Most people wouldn’t agree with your opinion or think it’s right, but that’s not what respecting an opinion is about. Maybe it originates out of trauma and a lifetime of negative experiences and associations with women - which is the part to be acknowledged, even if others and I personally may disagree with the opinion itself.