Informed or Opinionated?

Bewareofimages.com is a website that shared this thought the other day:

            “Try being informed, not just opinionated.”

Kajing! That hit me square on.

Being informed takes work and persistence. Reading and studying the who – what – how- when of issues takes time and applied logic. Understanding an issue in its fullness helps people adapt to it, use it, avoid its pitfalls, but take advantage of its good parts.

Having an opinion is easy. It does not require homework. It just is. And once the opinion is formed it takes on a life of its own. It finds supporting ideas and concepts that reinforces the opinion. Like an avalanche it plows a path forward through all kinds of situations, people and ideas. Whether tested and proven, or not.

Opinion is important. It is at its least a person’s stab at understanding and idea. What makes it more valuable, however, is testing the opinion. Asking questions about the opinion helps us understand it better and trust that it has validity. Is the opinion based on fact? If so, what facts are these? Where are they found? Are they of reliable source?

Does the opinion feed another idea or family of concepts which have relevance. Of what value is the opinion? Can it weave a broader fabric of understanding? Can we rely on it?

You see the work involved in validating an opinion. This needs to be done by the person holding the opinion. It should not be necessary for another person to do that work. However, if more than one person is to hold the same opinion and be able to discuss it fruitfully, the hard work of testing the opinion must be done by all believers of the opinion.

We tend not to do that work in America. Educational institutions do the work. The researchers, thinkers, writers and academicians do that work. It is part of their professional DNA. Many theologians or ministers do this work as well. They have to if they are to be able to communicate to others who need their ministry.

Trade associations and professional groups tend to do this work as well. It is what gives their specific industry identity and substance. Doctors, surgeons, pharmacists…all share with one another their best techniques and factual understandings so they grow strength of profession – together, not apart.

Facts or opinion? Are we disciplined or sloppy thinkers? Do we do our homework or slack off? Do we have faith that other conversants have done their homework? Or do we assume they are ignorant and lazy? Is that a fair assumption? Probably not!

We do need to test those assumptions from time to time. This keeps us hospitable and open to building relationships with others. So we can converse honestly with them. So we can rely on their statements as factual not opinion.

Dr. Wayne Dyer shares this idea with us:

            “The ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about

             Yet refuse to investigate.”

Sound familiar?

If we all checked our facts, did our investigative homework, fewer arguments would occur. And political dogma would fade away. Oh if only we could witness this change!

We might be willing to resume reading the news!

May 9, 2013