I Have A Right To My Opinion, Therefore You Are Wrong

[aduidarnenye]

The "I have a right to my opinion, therefore you are wrong" argument comes up a lot in my life. Possibly due to my liberal political view and being outspoken against things like homophobia, racism, etc. Possibly due to the fact that except for my husband I seem to be surrounded by ultra-Conservative stupidheads. It's the one argument I never seem to overcome.

Example:
Them: "Evolution is just a theory that someone came up with."
Me: "No, it's not a theory. There are a lot of scientific data backing up evolution."
Them: "In my opinion it's wrong. I believe God created the world."
Me: "Your opinion is wrong."
Them: "I have a right to my opinion!"
Me: "But it's wrong."
Them: "Only in your opinion."
Me: (davesilvermanface.jpg)

I can never, ever come up with a clever, succinct way to argue this, partially due to complete bafflement and partially due to anger.

I am wondering if anyone on BG has thought of, or knows, a good way to combat this idiotic argument?

[isladar]

There really isn't a means of changing someones views unless they're willing to let them be changed. Thus, this isn't a question of how to argue, but with whom you're arguing.

[Headspace]

But it is a theory.

[Slapper]

I fucking hate when people say "just a theory"

[Alleya]

Suggestions:

It's a theory the same way gravity is a theory.

Having an opinion doesn't make it correct. You're free to believe what you want, but that doesn't make it right. If you ignore evidence and blindly state your opinion regardless of what's presented to you, you're just closed minded and intellectually dishonest. Willfully stupid.

If say you believe in God, that is your belief and that's fine. If you argue that god created the world, you are making a scientific statement, or a statement that places the onus on you to prove it. Statements of belief do not constitute evidence. In order for a statement to be valid and not just an opinion, the preponderance of evidence must be in its favor, otherwise you're just parroting blind dogma. (Beware the followup: at this point you're usually told to prove that god didn't do it, or prove that god doesn't exist. That's when you have to remind them that the burden of proof is on the person making the claim, and they're the one's claiming god exists/god did it, therefore they're the ones with something to prove. You can provide evidence for evolution--all they have is a silly book and the warm fuzzy feeling they get in church)

Any other pressing quandaries?

[Tyche]

"The really cool thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not"

-NdT

[Chun Liroy]

Who gives a shit about enlightening the ignorant.

[Alleya]

Change comes after centuries of fruitless argument.

[Cream Soda]

Well, while it's one I personally believe, evolution is by definition a theory.

[Correction]

Who gives a shit about enlightening the ignorant.

As it turns out, most everyone else in the NFL thread.

[NiggaFromHarlem]

Well, while it's one I personally believe, evolution is by definition a theory.

The problem is that the people who usually argue against evolution/natural selection don't understand what a scientific theory is. When they think theory, they think 2nd shooter at the Grassy Knoll.

[Cadsuane]

Having a "right" to an opinion is a self-refuting and intellectually bankrupt concept, ie. it seems pretty obvious that this person you're talking about doesn't have a right to keep their opinion (particularly if it's false), or that you have an obligation to refrain from changing it. There are well reasoned and clear ways to demonstrate this but like a lot of obvious concepts necessary for critical thought, if you were able to understand it you do already or sort of do already, and if you don't no one is about to change that sad state of affairs.

Like you can point out that the topic at hand was the validity of biological evolution as a natural theory, and not your friends alleged legal or human rights, and that you don't see what the latter really has to do with anything.

You can also say "great, so supposedly so do I. My opinion is that you're wrong!". Then they'll probably talk about how opinions can't be right or wrong because they're opinions. "In my opinions opinions are true or false, and yours is false."

And even these are too dry and rhetorical. What you want to go for is sardonic one liners since the only thing you're about to get out of the conversation is trolling fodder. Indeed, this is why they invented trolling.

[Kuya]

Live free, troll hard.

[Cantih]

Who gives a shit about enlightening the ignorant.

Because if we don't, we have to deal with the repercussions of their shit?

[Yugl]

Well, while it's one I personally believe, evolution is by definition a theory.

It's sad that some people have trouble understanding this.

Edit: Fyi OP, theories can have scientific backing. Also, your fatal mistake was not saying "Not all theories are equal."

[Blarg]

I think people with opinions are idiots.

[Jefe]

The first thing you need to identify is the kind of disagreement. Although this one is a disagreement in belief (or not, the original argument is not clear, TC) I'm going to treat it as a disagreement in attitude. Scientific data, facts, etc. are useless in resolving this dispute, you could've given them all the scientific data to your heart's content and wouldn't have taken you anywhere. This is because the disagreement is not over what the facts are but how they are to be evaluated.

Persuasion works best, I'd avoid using words such as, 'wrong,' 'bad,' etc. since they have a strong emotive impact.

[Kerberoz]

It's a theory the same way gravity is a theory.

This, and every time they call you a Darwinist, call them a Newtonist.

or better yet, smile and nod, and quit trying to have meaningful conversations with fucktards.

[Zeb]

"The really cool thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not"

-NdT

^

[Surealistic]

ok, first of all, when they say god created man in his own image, ask them why we have belly buttons then


secondly, these people are either the greatest trolls the universe has ever seen or i dont even know

http://theflatearthsociety.org/cms/