224. I am entitled to my opinion

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This is becoming a very popular statement, deserving of sympathy when out of context. In fact, everyone is, indeed. The phrase is often used, however, at the end of the following sequence of events: Someone repeats a, at first sight, factual statement. Others rebuke or challenge it, demanding justification or evidence. The proponent makes a meek attempt to repeat baseless information the source of which they can’t identify. This is checked and debunked as being false. The proponent now has a choice. Withdraw the statement or stay with it, but with no justification. The first option feels like a comedown, a loss of face. Then, the trump (get it?) card is pulled, with the utterance ‘I’m entitled to my opinion’. Indisputable at first sight, unchallengeable. It avoids the comedown and, in the eyes of the proponent, the subsequent loss of face. It begets a pyrrhic victory, a tactical win which negates the much greater win of having the courage to change opinion based on evidence or challenge 

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Location: Hereford, UK

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