Date: 10 Nov 2001 15:14:51 -0800
From: Kevin Kinkel <shevek-AT-altavista.com>
Subject: Re: cowards arguments less persuasive?


> 
> opinions ans statements and expressions and quotes seem to be mixed up rather easily.
> 

Agreed

> 
if i want to express my opnion about something i need to be known to express that opinion so people know that such opinion is not something that comes out of nothing.
> 

I think they will know that by virtue of experience.  I have never seen a random statement appear out of thin air, but if I did I admit I would not necessarily consider it to be an expression of someone's opinion.  The appearance of an anonymous statement of personal belief would not suggest to me that statements have begun manufacturing themselves, but rather than this opinion is from a real person about whom I know nothing in particular.  I would not be able to identify such opinions as "Ze Sprout's opinions," but they would remain opinions nonetheless.


Perhaps the problem is that you and I are using a different dictionary.  According to mine, an opinion can be a kind of belief, generally held view, a judgement by anyone, or a judgement by an expert.  It would seem to me that only the later would be meaningless or empty if made anonymously.
  
> 
many people have said many valid things without we will ever know who they are. i see no problem in that. my opnions are probably less important but since they are my opinions and not an ancient truth or a new clich ;-) they are intertwined with my person.
> 

Your beliefs and judgements are also intertwined with your person, as are the expressions and quotes you use.  None of this makes them loose all content when they are made into statements and removed from your person, unless you believe that you are the only thing that actually exists :)  Perhaps those other types of statements and beliefs are intertwined to a lesser degree, but that does not imply that opinions are so closely identified with you that they loose all meaning in your absence.
 
> 
now to return to the initial post: the anonymous poster asked a personal question about list members. This, i think, is either utterly stupid or very 
suspicious
>

I won't deny that.

                                                                  Kevin K.


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