Hey what’s up Thinkers! Kathy Gibbens here…
Ok, let’s start off with a quick review from the Manipulation Mini-series we did earlier this season. This is from Part 9 where we talked about the tactic of Reciprocity: Reciprocity is our desire to do something for or give back to someone who has done something for us. We feel obligated to them. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to do something or give back when someone does something nice for us or gives us something. But it becomes manipulative when someone does something nice for you ON PURPOSE, specifically to make you like you owe them something in return.
So, the question to ask yourself if you think someone is trying to get you into a cycle of reciprocity is this: “Is this person trying to get me to do something in return or are they just being kind”
If you want to hear more about this fallacy, check out Episode 54.
Alright, the new fallacy we’re going to talk about today is called the ‘I’m Entitled to my Opinion’ Fallacy. And yes, that is a real fallacy! It’s sometimes called ‘I have a right to my opinion’. This is a statement often used as justification for holding a belief or viewpoint, despite evidence to the contrary. It is important to note that while everyone is, or course, entitled to their own opinions, that doesn't mean that all opinions are equally valid or deserving of respect. Some opinions are based on facts, logic, and evidence, while others are not.
Ok, so here’s what the ‘I’m Entitled to my Opinion’ fallacy sounds like, and yes, I’m going to make it super-simple and a bit silly so you’ll get the drift: “Bicycle tires are round.” “No they’re not, they’re square!” “Uh, no…they’re literally round so they can roll on the ground.” “Well, I think they’re square and I’m entitled to my own opinion!” Ok, do you see the error in thinking there? Rather than just say, oh yeah, those aren’t squares, the person used the “Entitled to my own opinion” fallacy to end the conversation and not have to change their stance on the topic.
Now, here’s an example where having an opinion is perfectly legit. “I think black licorice tastes terrible…that’s my opinion and I’m entitled to it.” What can you say to that? It’s a subjective thing, whether I like the flavor of black licorice or not. It’s not going against any FACTS, it’s just my opinion. In this case, there is no fallacy being committed b/c I’m not refusing to acknowledge any facts.
You may recognize this as a type of Red Herring, and you’d be right. Basically, the person committing this thinking error is ignoring all reason and fact and is just choosing to believe something else entirely…just b/c they want to. And I don’t think people are always trying to be stubborn and illogical… Sometimes, it’s really hard to change your mind or adopt a different viewpoint, even when presented with the facts - it really can be, especially if they have a lot of emotion around their chosen viewpoint!
The problem with the thinking in this fallacy is that there is a difference between facts and opinions. An opinion is what you think about something…it’s a judgment about whether you like it or not; however, a fact is what’s true about something. When someone is presented with objective facts and doesn’t want to accept those facts, that’s not an opinion, it’s just denying facts. I read a quote recently that sort of sums this up, “You have the right to your own opinion, but that doesn’t make your opinion right.” And just b/c someone has an opinion about something doesn’t mean everyone else has to treat their opinion as though it’s fact! Even if they want you to! They may be confusing opinions and facts, but you don’t have to…you don’t have to go along with that.
Typically, someone uses this fallacy when they’re all out of facts to back up what they believe, but they don’t want to change their mind. It’s a way of ending the conversation & opting out of the discussion without admitting they may have been wrong. If you’re in a conversation with this person, you may not be able to re-engage them in looking at the facts if they’re using this to end the conversation.
This fallacy can happen around any topic. Anytime someone is faced with arguments, facts & evidence contrary to what they believe or want to believe and reply with, “Well, I have the right to my own opinions” as a way of shutting down the conversation, they’re committing the “I have a right to my own opinion” Fallacy.
Question to ask yourself: “Are they choosing to believe a fact or an opinion?” *repeat*
Remember: When you learn HOW to think, you will no longer fall prey to those who are trying to tell you what THEY want you to think and it all starts with asking one simple question: “Is that really true?”
