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Comment by switch007 | Hacker News Reader

> Even correcting people who are clearly misinformed on clear matters of fact can cause offense.

This resonates deeply. I'm at the point where "I'm entitled to my opinion!" is a great signal to change the topic, never to return to the topic of politics with that person ever again

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When someone comes at me with "I'm entitled to my opinion!" I reply, "You're entitled to your INFORMED opinion!".

I think since around 2008 with the rise of social media, so much of one's ego has been made public. More so than ever before. Its as if everyone is a public figure. Because of this, more people are incapable of accepting that they may be wrong, underinformed, or simply misinformed.

The problem with that is the question becomes who determines what is informed? It wasn't that long ago that informed people were being made fun of because they where avoiding handshakes despite the CDC not supporting it.

Now both those who support and those who disagree with masks think they are the informed party. I have disagreed with the reopening plan for my country, based on the science as I understand it (they didn't open up enough outside) and it now looks like I was right.

So the question is, who and how do you determine what constitute an informed opinion?

I think that might be a signal that you have already gone too far into the convo too!

It's a shame if that's the case some of my favorite discussions have been with people tht disagree with me. I hope we haven't lost the ability to have a disagreement and remain friends.

I think its precisely those who can disagree and remain friends that are the people worth maintaining a friendship with. All others are a lower class of acquaintance.

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