Um... wrong.

Ain't that a fact. ;)

Nope no one is an expert at everything. But one shouldn't skip over everything a person says or knows. They may have an idea of what they are talking about...

Thank you for the best response remark. :)

Yes, all groups of people have included among them, the obnoxious.. What I find frustrating is how so many seem to think one group is worse than another, and they judge a whole group by the obnoxious ones, pointing to one group or another, as the more 'guilty ones' of the human race (bigotry is nothing more or less than the 'blame game'). Personally, I have close relatives, I love dearly, who have decided some speech or mentioning of topics are tabu, unless presented in their slant, or when I'm not there (as they know I'm of a certain sect or belief, tho I rarely have mentioned it). Then when I am not present, it is not tabu, and they ridicule me. But this only assures me that they haven't enough 'facts' or knowledge to back their own opinion or theory, which is no more "proven" than another, though they think it is.. so they do the next best thing which is to censure and belittle the opinion I have which they completely misunderstand in the first place. But I've given up trying to present anything different then their preconceived notion... (the notion that my group all thinks alike and we're all obnoxious, overbearing and ignorant).

Yes, I see what you're saying here. I agree with you and I am usually a pretty easy going person when it comes to other people's opinions. I feel I am very open-minded. I just get bothered when people start spreading rumors and stating them as "facts" that can give other people the wrong impression of something. For instance, in the example I used above, if a person said "painting your nails red will cause you to get cancer and your nails will fall off" and someone who knew nothing about the subject read it and thought it was a fact they may never paint their nails again or may tell others that that is true, when it really isn't.

Yes I get your drift! I've caught myself stating ( so called) facts without backup info. Must be careful about that! Thanks Molly!

I have a question? How long did the Flat Earth Theory remain a Fact?

Regardless I do hope you are able to sort out fact from fiction so that it does not upset you. Hope you have a good christmas.

I think you are confusing facts with values. A fact is a fact regardless of culture; for instance it is a fact that an object dropped above the earth will experience an acceleration due to gravity, ceteris paribus, regardless of culture. It may also be a fact that babies wear nappies in US over 6 months of age and that remains a fact regardless of the culture of the hearer. What does change is the cultural value placed on that fact. So, a fact may be considered a good or bad thing in different cultures without that affecting its truth value. all the best urban

I have to take note of this. Completely right, well said. I've had a couple of situations like you described. Other times its also the perspective itself in question and both people (in their personal experience) are correct, but still arguing. And arguments aren't always bad, sometimes they do bring out something from within, or they help bring a different picture for people to consider. Even when its cultural this can apply, although one should definitely consider culture, where you live, how you live, and other relevant issues.

Yeah, I get what you are saying and you're right. When it is something like "The color blue is the best color" that is obviously an opinion of their's and a fact for them. But when they say something like "If you paint your nails red you will get cancer and your fingers will fall off." then they are obviously just someone who doesn't know what they are talking about and that's when I get bothered.

Oh yeah, you're so right. It is the worst to me because I feel like people start to attack me on my beliefs (which are nonreligious.) I do not care about what other people believe, I support their right to believe it and I am not bothered by differing beliefs. I would never say to someone who has faith in a religion that they are wrong because I know they believe they are right and I respect that. I hate when they do not show me the same respect, for example, I can't count how many times I've been told I am "going to hell." It wouldn't even bother me at all if they just put "I think" ahead of that statement.

I don't stress about it because I don't take what I read as a fact unless I look it up myself. I'm just concerned about people who might believe things that are not facts.

All I'm saying is there is a difference between having an opinion and saying "this is what I think" and having an opinion but saying "this is what is" Opinions are not facts and people should not state them like they are because then other people may think false information is true. Life experience can be stated as a fact because it happened, but it only a fact for that person, not necessarily for all.