When it comes to expressing opinions, social media has been both a blessing and a curse. Social media has allowed us to express our opinions freely and it has been a vehicle for allowing the discussion of our opinions and issues that matter to us. At the same time, however, social media has led to everyone knowing each others opinions, which only leads to disagreements and debates that end in hurt feelings and friendships being destroyed.
Opinions are SO important to have. They allow us to be who we are. They are the reason that we see the world the way that we do. But opinions are not the end-all be-all. There is so much more to someone than their opinion and I am tired of seeing friendships ruined over silly disagreements.
I spend a lot of time on social media, way more than I would like to admit. I was even voted as my graduating class' "Most Time Spent On Social Media" for our mock elections. While I'm on social media, I constantly see people expressing their opinions and that's honestly great! I love reading what people have to say about certain topics and I love learning more about things through other peoples' opinions.
However, one thing that I see on social media far too frequently is people feeling so strongly about their opinions that they mistake them for being fact. Don't get me wrong, I think people should feel so passionately about things that they're willing to die for them, but we should always remember the difference between opinion and fact.
Telling someone that their opinion is wrong just because they don't agree with you only makes you wrong. How can someone else's opinion be wrong? Opinions are not facts. Their opinion is just as right or wrong as yours is. But what is wrong is telling someone that they are wrong for something that they believe in.
I see it time and time again, and I'm sure you do too. People criticizing others for their opinions. People being willing to end friendships over different opinions. And more importantly, people saying that everyone who doesn't agree with them is simply wrong.
An opinion cannot be wrong; it's impossible. Therefore, telling someone that their opinion is wrong only makes you wrong.
Let's all just agree to disagree.
