Beware: It May Not Be a Fact

A view or judgement or appraisal formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

Definition of Opinion

Loved family members have faced a life-changing medical challenge the past two months. What has been one source of their and my stress? People stating their opinions as facts.

I have opinions, and I believe you do, too. We take facts, analyze them, come to conclusions that may or may not be correct, and present them as facts.

Or we substitute our opinion when we believe —or hope—the facts are wrong.

Or we embellish the facts until they become lies. (Eve added her embellishment in the Garden of Eden.)

Current politics desensitized me to pointing out opinions presented as facts. Arguing for truth felt useless. However, during our family’s difficult days, the manipulation or disregarding of truth has caused misinformation and stress that cannot be ignored.

What do I wish I had known? To point out immediately opinions versus facts. What have I learned along the way? To take a hard stand for truthful facts.

Comment is free, but fact is sacred.

C.P. Scott, British Journalist and Publisher