Posted by Robert Dilley on February 27, 2002 at 19:07:37 from 216.211.68.96:
In Reply to: Re: Free Speech was Titty posted by Peter Roche on February 27, 2002 at 18:31:48:
Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion -- I agree entirely.
Every opinion is equally valid -- I disagree very vigorously! Everyone is entitled to express his/her opinion on any topic (provided it is not unlawful opinion) but must expect to have that opinion challenged. The idea that all opinions are equally valid is plain nonsense and would quickly put an end to all scientific inquiry. If my opinion that 2+2 = 5 is as valid as the general opinion that it = 4, then we are in trouble. You can think of your own examples -- look at all the dangerous opinions on race, class and gender there are. Are they all equally valid?
I see the debate over why the pigeons were addressed to Roger as exactly the sort of thing TarBoard is for, but I would hope the debate could be conducted without the personal asides and with the expectation that one's pet theory might get shot down (politely, of course) in flames, as it is shown not to be valid.
To say that not all opinions are valid (or equally valid) is not to say that one opinion is necessarily right (not even mine!) In some cases (as with the pigeons) we may never know the original reason. That does not mean we cannot identify some explanations as more likely to be valid that others. Nothing in my reading of Nancy's character makes me believe for one moment that she would think "Oops, Roger is a male so I must put his name and not that of a mere female, even if older". It just does not sound valid. To return to the original theme: Prue had every right to express that opinion, and to maintain it for as long as she wishes. That should not prevent others from arguing that it is not valid.