asks a knowledgeable Linda Greaves
Apparently everybody’s entitled to an opinion, but I’m really not so sure. Lately, I’ve noticed that everyone seems to have formed ideas about things that they know nothing about. Or rather, they’ve adopted other people’s views, which they’ve gleaned from trashy magazines.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for freedom of speech and allowing everyone to have a voice and be heard. My gripe isn’t with anyone’s self-expression; it’s with the regurgitation of public opinion without any consideration of the facts, or any fi rsthand knowledge of the subject matter. I love a debate; informed banter, disagreements and opposing views usually make for a good foundation in a long and meaty conversation. But it’s always the case that someone chirps up and throws in their two-pence-worth of second-hand opinion on a subject about which they clearly know nothing.

For example, I’m a music addict and a big fan of Tori Amos. I know a lot about her and have even had the pleasure to meet and speak to her on several occasions. I have a good understanding of who she is and what she’s trying to represent; so, I have a well-rounded opinion of her.

Yet time and again I fi nd myself in a conversation with someone who has, irritatingly, been unable to shake the media opinion formed of her years ago – as some wistful, crazy woman; the cornfl ake girl who only ever did one song (as opposed to over 500 with 11 studio albums). When I quiz people on what they actually know of her work, I’m always met by a telling, steely silence.

Voltaire once said, “Opinions have caused more ills than the plague or earthquakes on this little globe of ours.” And in a time when we’re continuously being inundated with opinions on people and situations by the media, it’s becoming increasingly diffi cult to form our own views on current-day subjects. Our belief in the written word can be an unconscious decision – we’re so busy these days that we often don’t have the time to question what we read – and tabloids and gossip mags often portray an unreal view of society. But while we can’t be blamed for this subliminal assault, we are entirely responsible for the things we say afterwards.

The current trend of thinking the way that we’re told to is both terrifying and tragic at once. The readiness of the public to ‘take the side’ of a media-backed celebrity, accepting their endorsements and opinions with little thought, is just astounding. People seem to be equally as quick to crucify people, trundling around in ‘Team X/Y/Z’, T-shirts, believing they have a clue what the truth is about the relevant celeb’s personal life. I fi rmly believe that, upon joining a conversation, the fi rst task is to neither agree nor disagree but to understand what is being argued, then absorb and refl ect upon the given information before casting your own opinion.

Socially, we’re so focused on freedom of speech that we often forget about freedom of thought – and it’s the ability to align our own paradigms that makes us individual. So, yes, everyone has the right to an opinion – but as far as I’m concerned, only if it’s truly their own.