It is not “just your opinion”
It seems that over the years we, as a society, have come to the conclusion that everyone has a right to state their opinion and people who criticise the opinion are trampling on “free speech”. However, that is just it! There are some things that are not just opinions, they are ideas about morality. What food is delicious is an opionion; who should die an agonizing death is a morality judgement. It can be your opionion that a certain hair color or body type is alluring, but to suggest that all those who fall short of your ideal are less than human... is not an opinion. A person’s favorite sport, food, author, animal, etc... is rarely an important part of their daily existance. One experience could change that opinion swiftly and painlessly. Whenever you encourage ostracising of an individual or group because of something that is integral to their being, you no longer have the safety of claiming an opinion. You no longer have the protection that “free speech” was intended to carry. What is frustrating to me is to see someone express an opinion about something and the response to such a post is brimming with morality judgements. Stating a certain person looks attractive in a certain photo quickly devolves into a shouting match about homosexuality (to give a vague and broad example). This isn’t to say that a person can’t state their beliefs about morality or discuss such things. This is to say that, when doing so, be aware that you have stepped out of the “safe zone” and should brace for undesired feedback.
So, please, realise when you are stating an opinion and when you are making a morality judgement. Realise when others are stating opinions and when they are stating morality judgements. Then, react and defend your positions accordingly.
