Fact or Opinion?
/Fact
When someone tells you that something is a fact they generally imply that a statement or information is true. This usually means it is something you can count on or use to get definitive results.
Opinion
When someone gives you an opinion, they are indicating that this is what they believe. It is their interpretation of some sort of information or supposed fact.
Yet often opinions are stated as facts and are then passed on as facts. We are bombarded everyday with information much of it repeated as fact.
For example, if you look at a news story about the situation in a far away country it is probably as much the reporter’s opinion or interpretation of the situation rather than simple facts.
Each year scientific studies show us something is good or bad for us. Later years studies often completely contradict those studies. Yet we put a great deal of trust in this scientific information to make our daily decisions. One would have to believe that much of the science we revere as fact is indeed the researcher’s opinion of some data generated by a study.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AD PRESENTED IN 1954!
If you are not absolutely sure that information you have is fact, follow these simple guidelines to help distinguish fact from opinion.
Where did the information come from?
Who has influenced the presentation of this information?
Who would benefit from this information being fact?
Have you seen things in your life that support that this information is fact?
IF YOU CANNOT DETERMINE IF INFORMATION IS FACT, BE SURE YOU AGREE WITH THE OPINION!