Opinion vs. Fact

OPINION
"a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty."
"a personal view, attitude, or appraisal" (dictionary.com).

"An opinion is a subjective statement or thought about an issue or topic, and is the result of emotion or interpretation of facts. An opinion may be supported by an argument, although people may draw opposing opinions from the same set of facts. Opinions rarely change without new arguments being presented. However, it can be reasoned that one opinion is better supported by the facts than another by analysing the supporting arguments.

"An opinion may be the result of a person's perspective, understanding, particular feelings, beliefs, and desires. In casual use, the term opinion may refer to unsubstantiated information, in contrast to knowledge and fact-based beliefs" (wikipedia.com).


FACT
"a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true" (dictionary.com).

"The word fact can refer to verified information about past or present circumstances or events which are presented as objective reality" (wikipedia.com).

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Everyone in this world believes their own opinion to be right, otherwise they would change it to something else. But, I'm seriously annoyed with people who claim their opinion to be true; that there is no wiggle room whatsoever, and that everyone else's opinion is false. Guess what? An opinion cannot be true or false, thus the nature of opinion. You can only have an opinion about something that hasn't been determined to be true or false; something that is purely subjective.

Movies are a good example. Every movie on the planet has at least one fan. You can't tell me that I'm wrong for liking or enjoying a movie, even if I'm the only person on Earth who likes it. It's my opinion. We can discuss why I like it, why you don't, and you may even be able to change my opinion about the movie, but that doesn't mean I was wrong to begin with. It's all about my personal preference.

Likewise, you can't have an opinion about something that is determined to be true by facts; something that is subjective. Cigarettes are bad for people. This isn't my opinion, and can't be my opinion, because it is a fact. It is proven to be true. If someone believes that cigarettes are good for them, it's not just that they have a different opinion from the rest of us, it's that they are wrong.

Opinions are opinions because they can be changed. I can like a certain movie when I'm 12, and dislike it when I see it again at 25. Facts cannot be changed, no matter how much we discuss them or change our personal preferences.