I'd divide 'having an opinion' into two categories.
First: things which are out of your control (for example Economics or politics i.e. commenting as a German on the Brexit). Here I agree, don't waste time and say "I don't care, I don't have an opinion".
Second: things which directly impact you and your familiy or your business - which are (I'd call) opinions with skin in the game. If things DIRECTLY impact you, I believe it's a moral obligation to call out BS.
If I have an opinion I make sure I understand the arguments on both sides and that I have skin in the game. Which means that I feel personally responsible for the advice or opinion I give. If not: I don't have an opinion.
Interesting framework of thought! Not spending much time thinking outside your circle of influence makes sense to me. But I’m not that clear-cut on it. I do have an opinion on some things that only indirectly affect me. For example, as a European, when Trump ran a backwards environmental policy, I had a negative opinion on that (aside: does climate change directly affect me? Not now, I think, but it might in the future)
it is becoming increasingly evident that clickbait news and headlines designed to provoke outrage are conditioning us to enact a series of predetermined reactions
When we live our lives online, inundated with new developments and challenges to debate with people we ideologically agree or disagree with, rushing to have a hot take on every last thing isn’t always productive. It’s perfectly okay to say “I don’t know” or “I don’t have an opinion on that” to those who are desperate to engage in some bad faith discourse on the wild headline of the day. Because tomorrow that wild headline will be gone, and all you’ll be left with is your own exhaustion.
This is very well thought out and expressed. I think it needs to be AOTD.
I'd divide 'having an opinion' into two categories. First: things which are out of your control (for example Economics or politics i.e. commenting as a German on the Brexit). Here I agree, don't waste time and say "I don't care, I don't have an opinion". Second: things which directly impact you and your familiy or your business - which are (I'd call) opinions with skin in the game. If things DIRECTLY impact you, I believe it's a moral obligation to call out BS. If I have an opinion I make sure I understand the arguments on both sides and that I have skin in the game. Which means that I feel personally responsible for the advice or opinion I give. If not: I don't have an opinion.
Interesting framework of thought! Not spending much time thinking outside your circle of influence makes sense to me. But I’m not that clear-cut on it. I do have an opinion on some things that only indirectly affect me. For example, as a European, when Trump ran a backwards environmental policy, I had a negative opinion on that (aside: does climate change directly affect me? Not now, I think, but it might in the future)
This entire article is why we need ReadUp
I had the same feeling reading this, especially towards the end!
Love this and this is the quote would’ve highlighted here, as well.