An acquaintance and I were nearing the parking area of a mall. The parking is a vast open space of compacted cars in a busy day. We went around through first corner but couldn’t find a spot for the car. The driver drove another round in the same corner two more times but still, we found no vacancy.
“Why don’t we try over there?” I told him. We were driving around the same loop when there are more possible parking spaces if we stretched further the parking lot. He refused, saying it’s the same over there.
How’d you know, we haven’t been there yet?!! I yelled at him in my thoughts. We went around again until he succumbed and drove further inside the parking. I was right, there was vacant slot for the car’s parking over there.
If there’s a pill for open-mindedness I’ll sponsor him supply for a year.
It is one of the many situations I encounter people verbalizing their opinions based on nothing. Situations change, so you cannot assert that you know what’s there or you know what’s happening like you’re the oracle expert. Opinions are good, but at least base it on something.
Take this example: you bought a new acoustic guitar and someone says it won’t last a week with you. That is a stupid opinion because (a) you don’t really know how long it will last, (b) you criticized, intentionally or unintentionally, the owner – that he can’t take care of his possessions especially a guitar he loved or loved to learn and (c) the opinionated person is being superlative and negative.
If your opinion is neither constructive nor good in nature, just don’t say it at all. It’ll make the other person feel worse. Also, it is better to say that the guitar won’t last a week because you had the same brand and the wood used is shabby, ask if he can still exchange it to other guitar brands. It sounds better because then the opinion is based on personal experience. Opinions with basis are the ones with substance.
What opinions based on nothing have you received?
