Opinions are a great thing, and can be empowering but there's a quote that I quite like that sums up my feelings on them most of the time;
"A gifted small girl has explained that pins are a great means of saving life, by not swallowing them." -Charles Edward Montague

Just because you (world at large you, not you specifically Ookami ) have an opinion does not mean that you are in the right time or place to voice that opinion. I've heard "It's my opinion!" be used too many times in the world to justify rude downright cruel actions or speeches, and it's something I wish people would put greater thought into.

Tera: While you are indeed right that we as individuals need to know when and where to voice our opinions, I think what Ookami is saying is that there seems to be a running theme that some people within the community seem to be incapable of taking an opinion for what it is: it's just how someone sees something.

I have noticed that some people here seem to take everything very personally. They cannot see things as just opinion: everything seems to be a personal vendetta. Speaking one's opinion just HAS to be an attack on someone. That's how many people here seem to take things, and it's o mature. I have, on numerous occasions, voiced a well-thought-out opinion, without naming names and without pointing fingers, and people have taken it as a personal attack.

Tera: And see, usually, I get to step 3, respond reasonably, and it just ends badly because people can't seem to handle it when I debate like a rational adult. They always seem to think that I'm trying to attack them or call them out, and I'm not. I just want to talk like an adult. I just want to state my opinion, be polite. and maybe come to an agreeable resolution or at least make my grievances understood without having to resort to namecalling.

Man Ammy, I know how you feel...but at the same time, sometimes I get people where I hear the things that come out of their mouth, and I can't help but think "Why did you feel you needed to inform us of that?" happens allll the time at school. Comes with the territory I suspect, some artists must divulge their every quibble with the world around them because tis ~expression~!

*cough*
Pardon my bitter lol.

This is why a majority of my opinions are kept somewhere elusive.
Like on MSN or sometimes in my updates.
You don't get as much fuss this way.

Maybe others could try being this way if they don't want to risk being beaten down?

Have to agree with you.

Really... if someone has an opinion that is not agreed with, they should not be bashed. ><
Complicated matter. Then, look at me. This is an opinion and I'm glad you took the time to bother reading it.

Opinions are fine, but the word opinion is thrown about so much on here as a defensive excuse to beat someone down even if names are not mentioned.

And when ones opinion is backed up by roundabout "facts" that turn it into something which it is not, that is what I have a problem with because it stops being an opinion, and turns into bullshit.

Thirdly, I've noticed how a mass of people can have a very strong and agressive opinion about something and suddenly it's okay to offend because "everyone" seems to agree. But when one person disagrees and reacts just as explosively as a result, it's: OSHIT, YOU'RE RUDE TO US, HOW DARE YOU.

Bottom line: if you intend to voice yourself, do so if you're willing to get some throwback. If someone disagreeing with you is going to make you even more angry about it and cause more grief, don't post in the first place and take it up with someone else.

Ranting at a friend is fantastic.