# Declare an opinion to be absolutely correct and authorative **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2016, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319 "2016-04-28T08:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/21 "2016-04-30T20:37:45Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > You’ve been on this board how long? Grin! I didn’t say it was absolutely correct; it was my vote for a statement to be made absolutely correct by whatever magical fiat the OP proposes. (I live in fear for the future fate of white chocolate! I have lived through the demise of Royal Crown cola and Aspen apple soda. Never again!) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/22 "2016-05-01T04:06:08Z")
I’m in a quandary. I don’t believe there is an eternal afterlife in Heaven where good people go when they die. But I’d delighted to be wrong. So can I declare I believe in Heaven even if I don’t and force it into existence? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/23 "2016-05-01T06:34:03Z")
Reading the OP carefully, your selection of “There is a Heaven for good people” wouldn’t make that true; only authoritative and correct and prevailing in the view of all people. Everyone would believe it to be true. It might be a better world… ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/24 "2016-05-01T09:52:55Z")
Here’s one from me: “Creative” spellings of names are undesirable and should be prevented wherever possible. ---
**Author:** ![Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Last\_Glacial\_Maximum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Last_Glacial_Maximum)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/25 "2016-05-03T00:21:20Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Teams that are allowed to return their pitcher to the mound after having someone else bat for him aren’t REALLY playing baseball. Yes. This. +100 ! . ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/26 "2016-05-03T17:57:33Z")
I might break your machine with a paradox, but honestly before I thought of that ramification the first thing that came to mind was, “Everyone should tolerate opinions other than their own.” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/27 "2016-05-03T19:14:47Z")
… whereas I am embracing the paradox on purpose: “No opinion on any subject may ever be deemed absolutely correct and authoritative”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/28 "2016-05-03T20:25:33Z")
I am almost dripping with sexual attraction to women, but they won’t tell me so. But all I have to do is tell the women I want that I want them, and they will have hot monkey sex with me whenever and wherever I want. I think that counts as an opnion – it certainly isn’t a fact! ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319/29 "2016-05-03T22:17:25Z")
**Boyo Jim** : Interesting example. It comes very close to changing the facts in the world, rather than just establishing an opinion. As a blunter example, suppose I used the magic of the OP to be able to fly. Everyone on earth would believe I can fly. I can say, “Well, I was just flying over Iowa today, chasing tornadoes,” and everyone would accept that as true. But it wouldn’t actually mean I can fly! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declare-an-opinion-to-be-absolutely-correct-and-authorative/753319.md?page=1)