An Opinion Page is full of, well, opinions. Not all opinions are created equal however.

The opinions on this page are generally short, usually leaving out any supporting data or proof, and may be based solely on emotion. Such beliefs or judgments are subjective and insufficient to produce complete certainty.

We recognize medical opinion as the diagnosis of those having special training and skills. The same can be said of legal opinions. Such opinions are often changed or rejected when new evidence becomes available. Science is based on the testing of hypotheses using careful observation. Opinions about conclusions by others in the same field may support or question conclusions and are worthy of attention. Opinions by individuals not knowledgeable about the subject have little weight.

An analysis based on opinion is referred to as normative analysis (what ought to be), as opposed to positive analysis, which is based on scientific observation (what can be experimentally determined).
People develop beliefs throughout life, and base opinions on these beliefs. Those made early in life tend to persist, while those formed more recently can be modified. Most are open to opinions similar to their own, and closed to those which contradict them. It is easy to keep things simple: the earth was flat yesterday and looks flat to me today; therefore the earth will always be flat. Too often we tend to take our own personal experience as sufficient to form sound opinions: I had a good supper, so there is no famine in the world; it snowed last week so global warming is a myth; I have a good job so there is no problem with unemployment; my interpretation of morality is correct so anyone who disagrees with me is wrong.

Some opinions are called “snap judgments.” The ability to make quick choices developed in our ancestors on the plains of Africa: “That tawny spot behind the bush might be a lion! I’d better run” was a good rule even if the spot was a brown bird in its nest. In today’s crowded world, the ability to steer through heavy traffic on the way home from work is valuable. However, if we are too free with this method it can lead to prejudice. It is one thing to teach our children not to accept rides from strangers; it is unwholesome to teach them to disparage those whose skin is green.

Public opinion, the prevailing view on a topic, is very fickle. What passes for public opinion is frequently based on opinion polls. There are two vast weaknesses in such polls: the way the subject is worded (“Don’t you agree with most people that…”), and who is asked (telephone surveys hardly ever contact people who have only cell phones). Such opinions tend to change dramatically based on information available to those who are polled, and because the polling sample population differs from one report to the next. If those sampled have access to sketchy information, the result will not represent the outlook had the entire population had been asked. Unfortunately, the time and cost of getting a consensus is often too great.

Often opinions are spread for political or economic purposes by writers and speakers with large followings. This is done to sway public opinion toward a goal set by the groups generating the material. Often this is referred to as propaganda, and should be approaced with suspicion.

Always hesitate if something is said to be true without question. Beware of opinions; they are liable to bite.