Where does 'people are entitled to their opinion' stop ?
 

Jordan asked this question in a BB thread and I think it would make for a great topic for the forum.

When the opinions begin to show extremist tendencies

By not resorting to insults, just say you don't agree with it :shrug:

Perhaps when the opinion is directed at somebody personally and is insulting.

People are entitalled to their opinion ,please or offend ,their opinions are what they believe in so should be allowed to express them to a certain extent,good question from Jordan though.

When the opinion is based on something you don't have experience/knowledge of and can cause great offense *cough* Evander.

I think views expressed in private, pretty much anything goes. I mean like, when talking to a good friend/family member/etc

I dont pussyfoot around people incase I offend them..I tend to think Im tolerant of everthing tbh so I wouldnt offend people often anyway(besides greeting gay friends as my fags..but thats their fault :laugh: ), but I would never purposely say something offensive.

In the recent BB thing, I feel if it hadnt been on tv it would be fine. He was asked an opinion and gave it. I dont see a problem with that, even if his views are homophobic. It becomes a problem when it is said to someone who takes offence I think. Eg. Actually saying to a gay person that they are unnatural.

I think homophobia/racism/etc is more about intent than the actual wording.

It doesn't stop, people are endlessly entitled to their opinion. Where people make the mistake is in thinking that being entitled to their opinion allows them to state that opinion without questioning or criticism.

People can hold, and state, any opinion they choose to. Likewise, they have to accept that in doing so they may be disliked by others and have that opinion (and their character for holding that opinion) called into question.

If they CAN NOT handle that criticism, then they SHOULD NOT share the opinion. And they certainly should not bleat "but I'm entitled to my opinion you can't say I'm wrong!!" when people dislike it.

If you want to state an opinion, own it. Be prepared to accept that others will disagree (sometimes forcefully), and be prepared to defend it. Properly.

when a person post's their opinions and they are insulted.

when it offends someone else

Agree, think often people just use "I'm entitled to my opinion" to dismiss any criticism of it, however valid that may be. Anyone is entitled to hold any opinion, but if you profess a certain view point then you should be prepared to be challenged on that view.

Nah...people could (and do) get offended by anything and everything though. People would be afraid to speak ever.

Nahh some people are far too easily offended. Think offcom...

ok, well when it offends a majority of people

Your views are offending me. Please shut up

Well it ends up being circular logic, doesn't it? "In my opinion, your opinion is awful, and I'm entitled to my opinion of your opinion."

yeah, well your canckles are offending me :hmph:

They offend all of us, Smithy.

:sad:

People's entitlement to voice their opinion should not override the need for tact in certain situations. Having a valid opinion is one thing, blurting out everything that pops into your head is another.

lets hope you start to live up to that mantra

so only gay people can discuss gay issues, only men discuss mens issues, only disabled discuss disabled issues, only football players discuss football? only politicians discuss politics? only welsh farmers discuss sheep?

absurd

Well said...!!!!:hugesmile::hugesmile:

American comedian George Carlin summed it up nicely when he said " you have the right to say anything about me , insult me if you wish... But I have the right to smack you in the face for saying it....."

When they should know better and keept it to themselves, Especially if making the opinion public in an inappropriate setting as on a TV show.
Such as the issue as to the gay topic on BB, it is not an appropriate setting for being able to fire off your own right or wrong views because it is likely against the BB rules to do so.

On here in this forum, if someone invites debate then it is more acceptable to express an opinion but if an opinion has no justification as to it and turns out illogical and /or wrong then it will be challenged and likely very strongly.

I forget who said it but I said it once before on here and I think Livia knows who said it but it goes something like this.
''It is better to keep quiet and be thought foolish than to open your mouth and remove all doubt''.

It's all about context for me. Expressing your opinion is perfectly valid, trying to force that opinion on others is wrong. A lot of things opinions require understanding on both sides of the coin...just saying you're wrong is not a valid argument. To break down prejudices browbeating doesn't work, it has to be education and understanding from all parties. The ability to accept people for their opinions and faults has to happen too, not everyone is ever going to agree.

It doesn't stop. But more importantly than that, people don't have the right to not be offended.

We dont?? ****... I haven't been offended for years. Now I dont know whether I should turn myself in, or just spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder :(. If I start being offended now, do you think they'll let it slide?

I was under the impression the line was unless you were inciting hatred then expressing your opinion was fine?...
This appears to be changing, now you can't express an opinion as someone somewhere may be offended.
Soon you won't be allowed to criticise the govt, or post opinion on forums such as these....

I think the line is still at inciting hatred, but some people are choosing to get more offended than they really are by certain comments in order to drag the line closer to their own agenda...

You will not
you are at a Better Level

Me too, it seems almost a crime to offend someone lately, how will children ever learn conflict resolution if nobody is allowed ti name call?
It's such an integral part of social interaction, and yet it seems nobody has the tools to deal with it and are relying on authority figures to say what is and isn't acceptable...
Although what appears to be happening is you're challenged now for having thoughts and opinions that are anything other than the socially accepted norm,
It's becoming increasingly noticeable.