You are not entitled to an opinion.

You are not entitled to an opinion. An opinion is what you have when you don't have any facts. When you have the facts, you don't need an opinion.

Solomon Short

Consensus is something you can live with, not something you would die for. We need to accommodate legitimate, diverse points of view. Too often we move from the issue to the person. Once we question the legitimacy of the other person, we end honest debate and emotion precludes logic. We need to disagree without despising, debate without demeaning, understand without undermining. We'll never gain influence if we demonize those who disagree with us.

Alan Weiss

http://www.summitconsulting.com/

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I have always heard this phrase but, sometimes I wonder.  The internet has brought millions of opinions.  Some good, many really bad.  If you leave a comment you’ll see “You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.” by Harlan Ellison.  Seth Godin posted a piece on when you don’t need to account for opinions.  Specifically the two things that disqualify someone from being listened to:  Lack of Standing and Lack of Credibility.

Read more at Seth's blog

Devotees of the Internet like to say that the Web is a bottom-up phenomenon that wondrously bypasses the traditional gatekeepers in publishing and politics who allegedly snuff out true debate. But much of what I see is unedited, incoherent babble indicative of a herd mentality, not a true desire for self-government or fairness.

John R. MacArthur from Internet Con Men Ravage Journalism

I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.

Edward Gibbon

Comments?  Opines? Onions?