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Transcript
(Actually a pre-written script that I riffed from while recording the video.)
It’s no surprise that there are lots of opinions about technology. Both the tech itself, and the companies (and individuals) that make it. Some of those opinions are even strong. 
I hear a lot of them.
By and large, the opinions I hear at least all tend to generally align. By that, I mean they all tend to skew in the same direction. For example some might comment on a OneDrive issue with “Microsoft made a stupid decision” and others with “Microsoft’s the most evil company ever and they’re just trying to slurp up our data and extort more money from us.”
While they differ in strength and length, they’re at least pointing more or less in the same direction: Microsoft bad.
This week was interesting.
I published an article and video outlining my opinion that you don’t need to purchase a new machine because of Windows 11 new hardware requirements (there are options, including continuing to run Windows 10 safely). That topic has garnered the most diverse set of responses I can recall in recent memory.
On one end there are folks more-or-less agreeing with me — thanking me, even, for saying out loud what they’ve been thinking, planning, or even already experiencing directly since they disabled Windows 10 updates. I confirmed their pre-existing opinion, and they approved
At the other end of the spectrum were those who disagreed, sometimes intensely. Words like “irresponsible” were even being thrown around for my even sharing my opinion. Clearly I did not have the opinion that these folks have, or wanted me to have. They did not approve.
I find it all fascinating.
It’s a great example of how nothing is black or white. It’s all shades of gray, or even black AND white at the same time.
We all come into these situations with differing levels of experience, knowledge, and beliefs – yes, beliefs – that color our opinions, and our opinions on the opinions of others.
I call out the word “beliefs” because that’s what much is based on. It’s impossible to know beforehand, for example, whether the end of Windows 10 support will be a security nightmare, or a non-issue. That doesn’t prevent people from holding strong beliefs about what will happen.
And, as we know all too well, many people who hold strong beliefs are more than happy to rail against those who don’t feel the same way.
To be clear, this isn’t really related to my last chat on civility. Most of the responses I’m seeing are relatively civil. There aren’t many really being dicks about it. But there are some very strong opinions being shared.
My takeaway for you is this: particularly when you see wildly diverging opinions on a topic, pay attention.
Resist the urge to dig in defending yours. It’s hard not to — trust me — but the fact those other opinions exist might be telling you something.
And if you’re coming into the discussion without a pre-existing opinion, take the time to examine both sides, both on the merits, and your understanding of who warrants your trust.
Differing opinions are important. As Robert Heinlein said, “I never learned from a man who agreed with me.” Keep up the good work, Leo.
My opinions are just that, opinions. I’m entitled to believe what I believe, based on whatever I’ve decided is right. One thing I’ve decided is right is based on that the old adage “What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander”, meaning that If I have the right to my opinions, so does everyone else. That belief makes it my responsibility to respect everyone else’s right to their own opinions. While I may believe that I have the right to expect others to respect my right to my opinions, I know that won’t always happen, and that I don’t have the right to try to make them comply with my beliefs, so I don’t.
With that said, as a citizen of the United States of America, I do have the constitutional right to freedom of speech, so I’ll state my opinions when the opportunity arises, but I’ll always be careful to express them as what they are, my opinions, or I’ll close a post with a “My2Cents” entry at the end, before my signature “Ernie” (everyone who reads what I post here has seen me do that).
My beliefs include the concept that when I make a statement as fact, the reader has the right to research my statement, and correct me if I’m wrong, and believe me, I’ll appreciate it, if it’s done respectfully (in other words, please don’t call me stupid, just tell me why my statement was wrong, and supply your source of information so I can properly evaluate what you say for myself).
If others disagree with any of my opinions, they have the right to express their disagreements, but I request they express why they disagree with me, so I can consider their point of view. That’s the only way I’ll listen, and if you ask me, that’s the only way we can learn from each other. If others try to force their opinions on me, I’ll refuse to comply – period. That’s not their right, at least not in my world, so I’ll simply shut-up, and ignore any additional communication from that source.
What do you think?
My2Cents,
Ernie
Ya, well, ya know, that’s just like your opinion man.