Over/Misusage of the phrase "It's my opinion"?

[The Soldier 2,044]

What I hate about opinions is not the opinion itself, but how the people use it.

 

Use the phrase, "It's just my opinion" for example. That phrase didn't annoy me at first. But unfortunately, after reading many of that same phrase in YouTube comments and especially some of these forum's posts, it starts to become more of a bother. And now whenever I read that phrase "It's my opinion", I would think that the phrase is saying nothing but "I'm stubborn and I don't want to hear your opinions and facts about it."

 

What do you guys think of the phrase "It's my opinion"?

[Nulln 755]

I don't mind.  The only time people say it is when other people are attacking them or trying to get them to change their opinion. 

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think it is used a lot because, sometimes a person doesn't want to hear someone's opinion or they feel that they are getting attacked for their own opinion on whatever the matter is. I don't care about the phrase anyway.

[Envy 6,182]

I usually don't mind if people throw in "in my opinion", casually.

 

However, when they say something like "Being gay is a choice. But that's just my opinion.", then I get mad. Because whether or not my sexuality was a choice can not be somebody else's opinion. When "it's just my opinion" is used for that or anything similar, it does get very annoying... Some people really don't know what an opinion is.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Envy

[GhostPony750 959]

Well, everyone is different.
 
Some are open to ideas, but for some are totally closed to them, and only them are right. I usually use this phrase because my opinions tend to differ from everyone else's, but I'm totally open to other's ideas.
 
This phrase is usually a protection. Because you know, saying you don't like 5th gen and that your favorite gen is the 1st is a suicide on a pokemon forum.
 

Because whether or not my sexuality was a choice can not be somebody else's opinion.

Oh yea, I agree here. About these things, it's not an opinion anymore, we need facts. I always put my sources in this kind of debate, you can't just throw a sentence without anything to support your idea.

Edited November 17, 2013 by GhostPony750

[Celtore 2,770]

It's highly dependant on context.

 

From one perspective, the phrase could be a blanket statement to deflect intellectual discussion and prevent the  worry of having to back up an opinion, despite how flawed it might be. From another, it could be just someone wanting to speak their opinion, but in a softer tone. It's pretty difficult to capture tone in an opinionated post sometimes, it mostly comes out as angry.

 

But is it overused / misused? Yes, mostly because of the first case.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Celtore

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,689]

Usually it annoys me when it is being used to try and justify bigotry or something religious. You cannot come to me and tell me that your religion is just 'your opinion' when many, many, MANY other people constantly try to convince me of how right they are about the exact same thing. Not only that, but religion usually seems like a declaration of reality and thus needs a bit more proof for me.

 

Honestly though, the thing that annoys me more is people who start to stop using the word opinion and start using other words to make THEIR opinion seem like absolute fact. That gets old incredibly fast. I have noticed that in this fandom a bit.

[Armchair Adventurer 211]

Usually, when I say "in my opinion" it is because I'm I'm a bit insecure or unsure how people will react to what I have to say. I don't use it to avoid having to justify my arguments I use it to introduce something into a conversation which could make somebody react one way or another. I don't state it as fact so I wouldn't offend anyone, instead I say in my opinion to let people understand that that's the way I think and I'm perfectly fine if they disagree with me and would happily hear their reasons.

 

Guess the meaning of this phrase depends a lot on the context and the intention behind it.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

Yeahh, I usually say "In my opinion" when I'm trying to prove a point, or stating what I like. That way, people will know I'm not trying to say "I'm right, you're wrong." but "This is what I think."

 

Pretty much whenever I share my opinion, so that way people don't think I'm saying that what I think is fact.

 

Makes you look like less of an ass, I guess

 

Not really overused, no.

[Mutemutt 773]

It only annoys me when people use the phrase to avoid defending their opinion. My thought after reading those kind of responses is usually something "Yeah, I know it's your opinion and whatever I said in response to 'your opinion' was just my opinion. You really didn't have to point that out...". I mean, I understand some people feel like they're under attack if you point out something in their opinion you disagree with, but it just comes off as overly defensive to me.

 

But there are other situations were the phrase is appropriate, like times where a statement may sound like a fact (not sure how often this really happens but...) or maybe times where they just want to sound less... um, assertive, I guess. It really depends on the context, but, overall, I'll say I think misused more than I'd like it to be. 

[Cygnus 60]

The US is a culture of frequent and easy offense, so it doesn't surprise me to hear people throw it in. A bigoted opinion is still a bigoted opinion, though.

[Dddrgn 450]

I don't care if they use it casually, but when people use it over and over in a way to deny me of expressing my own opinion, that's when it gets annoying.

[Commander Tangent 861]

I don't really fret over it if it is used here and there. But if its used constantly, it starts to irk me a little.

[Megas 27,743]

I don't think it's a problem, as this is the internet and some people tend to look at things the wrong way. It's really only annoying when people use it as an excuse to be a cynical douchebag

Edited November 17, 2013 by Rusty Shackleford

[VenomTrixie 57]

I don't mind it, It's a good way to let someone know what you think, without anyone accusing you of trying to pass what your saying as actual facts.

Edited November 17, 2013 by VenomTrixie

[Pat.Rio.T. 305]

Whenever I use it, I just use it to clarify that that is only what I think about something, and nothing more. Like if I don't want it to become a big deal.

[Lady Leopardess 393]

I dunno I guess it depends on the tone and way in which a person uses it.

When I say " just my opinion/ in my opinion " ; i generally meaning one or more of these things

1 you have asked my opinion and I am sharing it with you and otherwise I may have not it brought it up otherwise

2 (using softer/quieter tone) It's an opinion of which I have but it's not a particularly strong or important opinion to me or one which I have not given thought.

3 (strong/louder tone) when I'm annoyed at the situation and stating my disapproval at something (people being lazy in a group or if something is being done in an illogical way)

4 can also be a way of saying this may or may not be true but this is what I think with my current knowledge and I won't think people are wrong for thinking of it in a different way.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Lady Leopardess

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

The only time I see a problem is when people use it to justify bigotry/racism/prejudice/whatever, such as "it's just my opinion, but I don't think Mexicans should be in my country" or "in my opinion, black people are dumber than white people".

 

It has it's valid uses, but there's a limit. Some people can't separate the objective form the subjective and use it to justify holding blatantly wrong stances and believing horrifically incorrect "facts".    

Edited November 17, 2013 by Shoboni

[Misty Shadow 7,940]

While I agree it's become a plaid-out phrase, I don't really care, even when someone uses it to back up something I know isn't true. In fact, I've actually come to believe that opinions are really just illusions we create from what we think we feel about something. So many things in this world are subjective that it's almost impossible to define something as good, bad, or average. However, that doesn't mean opinions are worthless. They can reflect the truth about something and help you realize things that you never knew.

 

That is my opinion on this subject. Is there truth within my illusion? That my friend, is for you to decide.

[Eureka 1,119]

I mean, if someone is criticizing your opinion and if your opinion isn't about someone else, then I think it's okay to say it. But, if you are saying "I think she's a bitch and thats just my opinion" or anything of the sort, Its annoying.

 

But that's just my opinion.

 

 

lel lel lel

[Rockymoo 2,137]

It's a good way to convey your point without giving the implication that you assume your opinion is objective.

Literally saying "In my opinion" gets really stale, so I avoid specifically wording it like that and using alternatives like "in my eyes", "In my book", "if you ask me", etc.