"It's just my opinion"

[JOYCEfromNS]

Great topic and thought provoking. IMHO allows the writer to express that he is aware that there are more than one sometimes conflicting views but he is stating where his position on the subject lies.

[Queequeg]

Each of us views life as light through a prism.
Perspective changes what we see.
To say "in my opinion" is to acknowledge that what is stated is from one's own perspective and invites others to offer up alternatives from their vantage points, which can be just as valid, just as true, but may reveal an added dimension to the subject.
Thus, stating the obvious ("just my opinion") recognizes and upholds that differing opinions need not necessarily be mutually exclusive.

[bearsville0]

To say "in my opinion" is to acknowledge that what is stated is from one's own perspective and invites others to offer up alternatives from their vantage points, which can be just as valid, just as true, but may reveal an added dimension to the subject.

Thus, stating the obvious ("just my opinion") recognizes and upholds that differing opinions need not necessarily be mutually exclusive.

I agree and think it is all a step in the process of trying to reach a conclusion that will guide or inform behavior and action.

[Michael T]

Each of us views life as light through a prism.
Perspective changes what we see.
To say "in my opinion" is to acknowledge that what is stated is from one's own perspective and invites others to offer up alternatives from their vantage points, which can be just as valid, just as true, but may reveal an added dimension to the subject.
Thus, stating the obvious ("just my opinion") recognizes and upholds that differing opinions need not necessarily be mutually exclusive.

Bingo! That is a pretty good definition to me.

[jeremy3220]

Thus, stating the obvious ("just my opinion") recognizes and upholds that differing opinions need not necessarily be mutually exclusive.

What about when they are?

[gitnoob]

I often qualify a statement with "in my opinion," when it's a matter of perception or personal preference.    For example, subjective measures of taste, smell, sound, feel.

[Queequeg]

What about when they are?

So, right, sometimes they are. Then they don't agree. It is a non-confrontational way of acknowledging that it remains nothing more than an opinion, as opposed to a statement of fact. Big difference. When people argue what they believe to be "the facts", you never hear them use the phrase, "just my opinion".

[bearsville0]

When people argue what they believe to be "the facts", you never hear them use the phrase, "just my opinion".

I'd like to see the opposite where we assume it is all only your wishful/biased opinion unless you specifically state the research that gives us the confidence to make truth claims.

No more "in my opinion" because of course it's just your opinion.

[Walkerman]

I think that JMO refers to subjective things.  IOW, one wouldn't say..the Earth is round, but that's just my opinion.  OTOH, one might well say MaryAnn was prettier than Ginger, but that's just my opinion.

[bearsville0]

  IOW, one wouldn't say..the Earth is round, but that's just my opinion. 

No, but just for kicks I'd like to say that I read something in a book once that a community of reasonable people, upon examination of the available data, concluded in the majority, that for all intents and purposes we should consider the earth roundish, or at least not flat.

[Randy_R]

I think Einstein should have included the statement "its just my opinion" at the conclusion of his theory of relativity.

[bearsville0]

I think Einstein should have included the statement "its just my opinion" at the conclusion of his theory of relativity.

Yes, he could have said "I might be wrong, but relatively speaking, it's a cool theory"

[jeremy3220]

I think Einstein should have included the statement "its just my opinion" at the conclusion of his theory of relativity.

It wouldn't be true. Those theories are supported by evidence. They're not just an opinion.

I think that JMO refers to subjective things. 

I think so too. The problem is that the phrase doesn't literally mean that and the phrase gets used so often in our culture in other ways it has become a cliche. It can be a bit deceptive because it is often used as a mechanism to passively state a topic is subjective.

I heard this conversation the other day:
(highly condensed version)

Person A) I don't think absolute truth exists.
Person B) That's a contradiction because the claim itself is an absolute.
Person A) No, because it's just my opinion!

Once I thought about it I figured if Person A is just telling you he holds that opinion then he is simply being redundant. If he is claiming it is a subjective topic then it's circular reasoning. I thought it was disturbing though that it took me awhile to realize this.

[Stephen Basil]

I think Einstein should have included the statement "its just my opinion" at the conclusion of his theory of relativity.

According to Bob Newhart, the guy who came up with e=mc(cube) ended up working in a bakery.

[frankhond]

This is a netiquette thing which stems from the early internet days. To prevent misunderstanding and flamewars, it was stated in netiquette manuals to always include IMHO or similar whenever your statement might step on someone's toes - which pretty much is all the time for most people.

I assume everything one writes in places like this is IMHO, but in less mature contexts people get aggravated over almost nothing...

[jeremy3220]

This is a netiquette thing which stems from the early internet days. To prevent misunderstanding and flamewars, it was stated in netiquette manuals to always include IMHO or similar whenever your statement might step on someone's toes - which pretty much is all the time for most people.

I assume everything one writes in places like this is IMHO, but in less mature contexts people get aggravated over almost nothing...

oh I meant anywhere, not just the internet. The last example I gave was from RL (internet for real life  ).

[bearsville0]

The problem is that the phrase doesn't literally mean that and the phrase gets used so often in our culture in other ways it has become a cliche. It can be a bit deceptive because it is often used as a mechanism to passively state a topic is subjective.

I think it's also often used as a back up excuse if people don't agree with you. In those cases people should say "Look I'm really an idiot so by my saying 'it's just my opinion' you have the option of ignoring me and I won't be offended."

[jeremy3220]

I think it's also often used as a back up excuse if people don't agree with you. In those cases people should say "Look I'm really an idiot so by my saying 'it's just my opinion' you have the option of ignoring me and I won't be offended."

Yes and I try to take that option.

It seems some people have a 'We can't know anything so I must be just as right mentality'.

[bearsville0]

It seems some people have a 'We can't know anything so I must be just as right' mentality.

I think that is a lame excuse for people who don't want to take a serious look at the claims they make and be prepared to defend them.

[Caleb]

Interesting thread...  I wasn't sure I had anything of interest to contribute, so thus far I've stayed out.  But here goes:

John Adams once said, "Facts are stubborn things."  That is true, but they are not as stubborn as people.  We live in an age where relativism has become so ingrained in the minds of modern people that anything and everything is up for grabs.  If you don't like a certain truth or fact, then you can simply reject it and replace it with whatever pleases you.  And you're sure to find someone that agrees and gives weight to your argument—maybe even some famous person that people revere, which will give even more weight to it—so life moves on and nothing changes.  

Opinions really are the "facts" the many (or most) live by.  They don't have to be based on anything but strong feelings—nothing else.  I don't believe many opinions that people hold have ever been given much rational at all. They simply "feel" and that becomes reality.  That is the way of the modern world, and that is way we live.  We don't really think (well, some do, but...), we simply feel.  I see this all over the place.  

That is the core of the argument.  You have to establish how truth and facts are arrived at, or whether they even can be, before moving on and settling anything regarding facts.  So everything becomes mere opinion, and everything remains powerless.