Why the hell is everybody so damned opinionated these days?
Furthermore, why is it that every idiot with an opinion, seems to think that their opinion, is a bloody brilliant opinion and in their opinion, it should be heeded without exception?
For anyone to claim that their opinion should be heard above other opinions, in my opinion, is the wrong opinion.
Opinion is a personal expression of the mind and everybody is entitled to their own. As individuals our opinions are what set us apart – without them we would be sheep. Our opinions polarise us and rightly so…
Some opinions are daft.
As people, we need only see a new face to form a basic opinion of the character behind it. Problem with this style of introduction, potentially, it’s fraught with inaccuracies.
I entered a supermarket foyer the other day and was accosted by a couple of elderly women seated behind a bench, selling raffle tickets. As I scanned the adjacent display of vegetable saplings one of the pair leaned forward and beseeched, “Sir, you must have two dollars for a raffle ticket..?”
In fact my wallet contained several two dollar coins but glancing at the prize – a miniature Christmas tree adorned with Instant Kiwi tickets – I began to politely decline the offer.
The woman persevered: “Come on Sir, give it a go, you look like a lucky man…”
I paused, chuckled inwardly and thought, ‘Lady, if you only knew…’
With a wry grin I removed my wallet, popped the dome and parted with two dollars. Both ladies smiled broadly, clearly surprised at how easily men can be cajoled.
In reality I’d seen it was an RSA fundraiser, leading to a surge of magnanimity.
Accepting the pen on offer I hunched over the bench, thrust down my right hand then to the ladies’ horror, appeared to try and crush it with my left. I raised my twitching head, met their eyes in succession, smiled grimly, then with a spasmodic right arm steadied by its forceful opposite, painstakingly drew my name; straightened, handed back the pen, wiped the few beads of sweat from my brow, smiled again and bid the women a good day…
“Oh, Sir,” came an unnerved voice from behind me, “Sir, you forgot to leave your phone number..?”
“No I didn’t,” I called back.
Point made.
As mentioned, people tend to form instantaneous opinions on other people. The subjects of these opinions sometimes feel they are being judged – these people should learn to distinguish ‘judgmental’ from ‘observational’. Those two old ladies certainly hadn’t been judgemental, they had merely seen what they had seen and based upon that, had formed an immediate opinion of me: debonair gentleman – lucky…
Just a pity that initial opinion was so far from accurate.
…With limited control of his limbs – perhaps not so much.
That said, those who do bitch and moan about being judged by others, seem to be those same people who live less than wholesome, often reprehensible, sometimes even debauched lifestyles and to be fair, are probably already judging themselves anyway…
That’s my opinion.
Article by Mit Reklaw
Edited by Judge Mantle
Photography by O Pinion