Can you have an opinion on what someone else should do without infringing on their right to choose?

[bryant69]

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Yes, you can. Opinions are like assholes.

Everybody's got one.

Of course, other people are entitled to their opinion that your opinion is full of shit, too.

[Squatch]

9. And they all stink...

[bryant69]

10. All opinions stink? That's pretty dark. n/t

[MADem]

2. Having an opinion is NEVER a problem. IMPOSING your opinion on others is, however. NT

[bryant69]

3. Hmmm.

Would saying to a friend "Look, you can do what you want, but American Dad is a crap show and if you keep watching it you are continuing to support Crap TV. You shouldn't do that." constitute imposing my opinion on others?

Bryant

[tkmorris]

4. It might be pretty rude

It depends on how you go about it and who you do it to.

[MADem]

6. Nope. That's not IMPOSING an opinion.

Imposing your opinion re: American Dad would be blocking the show from the view of your pals (programming their remote with a secret code so they couldn't get it), cutting their cable every time they tried to see it, organizing a petition to pass a law to make it illegal to view the program, that sort of thing.

Voicing an opinion is different from imposing an opinion. People are free to ignore your gum flapping, or respond to your opinion with their own acerbic opinions, for example: "I'll watch what I like, you nosy baastid--oh, and yer breath stinks, too!"

[Warren DeMontague]

14. No. But, then, your friend wouldn't be imposing his opinion on you if he told you to mind your own

damn business about what he chooses to watch.

[Jed Dilligan]

5. I guess it depends somewhat on your relationship

If your married to someone and their opinions begin to tyrannize you, you are kind of stuck at least until you get out of the marriage. Likewise with bosses. Maybe they can't control your life but it will be mighty unpleasant if you are forced to be in the same room with their opinions ALL THE TIME.

[bryant69]

8. Well if you are married to someone you can't stand

I guess there is away around that situation, as you note.

Bryant

[Jed Dilligan]

12. The problem is people change after one becomes entangled with them

kids, property, etc. I've seen a lot of friends marry "stealth" assholes. There is an amount of time between when the behavior starts and when you can get rid of the person, and during that time I'd say their opinions can be pretty oppressive.

[DangerDave921]

13. yup

Like internet chat rooms, phone sex, computer porn, etc. LOL Who needs marriage???

[Az]

7. Keeping in mind there is a difference between the word infringing and influencing

Your opinion cannot force another to act in a specified way. It may influence it. But that is free speech.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. Yep - you've got the right to say whatever you want.

Just be prepared for the consequence of that person drawing you out of their life if you get too pushy. They have that right too.

[WinkyDink]

15. I think we ALL have "an opinion on what [BUSH] should do without infringing on [HIS] right to

choose."

Do we not?

[bryant69]

16. Yes - but of course the question is does the underlining question

apply to a woman's right to choose as well.

I think Bush should resign immediately and try to swim the English Channel.

Bryant