# Facts vs. Opinions in Great Debates **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 8, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347 "2016-05-08T22:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/1 "2016-05-08T22:37:46Z")
Which is preferable in a forum called Great Debates? Discussions based on facts, or mere opinions? We all know what they say about opinions, everyone has one. My problem with opinions is that people then use it as an excuse to handwave away any criticism, at all. “It’s my OPINION, and opinions cannot be wrong” is how it usually goes. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/2 "2016-05-08T23:15:02Z")
Are you seeking opinions? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/3 "2016-05-08T23:22:52Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Are you seeking opinions? No, I’m wondering why posters are allowed to post completely false information in Great Debates, but if I point it out, it draws a mod note. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/4 "2016-05-08T23:28:39Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > No, I’m wondering why posters are allowed to post completely false information in Great Debates, but if I point it out, it draws a mod note. You didn’t even get a mod note. > [@SCOTUS nominations have become political? Only since Bork.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-nominations-have-become-political-only-since-bork/753741/168): > > Neither is using snark to harangue a poster about a simple mistake for hours and posts. > > Knock it off. > That topic is closed in this thread. > > [ /Moderating / And it wasn’t posting completely false information, it was a simple mistake. Which you refused to accept as such. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/5 "2016-05-08T23:35:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And it wasn’t posting completely false information, it was a simple mistake. > Which you refused to accept as such. Confusing Georgia and Kentucky is a “simple mistake”? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/6 "2016-05-08T23:39:43Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Confusing Georgia and Kentucky is a “simple mistake”? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/7 "2016-05-08T23:39:46Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Confusing Georgia and Kentucky is a “simple mistake”? They’re both culturally backward, Southern states among several others. Pretty easy mistake to make. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/8 "2016-05-08T23:40:31Z")
You’re lucky you didn’t get a _warning_ for disregarding a mod’s instruction. See Tom’s first note if you have a question. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19314677&postcount=162](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19314677&postcount=162) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/9 "2016-05-08T23:49:34Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > They’re both culturally backward, Southern states among several others. > > Pretty easy mistake to make. Again with the opinions, instead of facts. Is that what the TPTB are looking for in Great Debates? ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/10 "2016-05-08T23:54:37Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Again with the opinions, instead of facts. Is that what the TPTB are looking for in Great Debates? I suspect that they’re hoping for people who can follow simply instructions. Alas. Being a TPTB ain’t what it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/11 "2016-05-08T23:56:41Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Again with the opinions, instead of facts. Is that what the TPTB are looking for in Great Debates? This is ATMB, not GD. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/12 "2016-05-08T23:57:23Z")
> [@Emiliana](#): > > I suspect that they’re hoping for people who can follow simply instructions. Alas. Being a TPTB ain’t what it used to be. What does “follow simply instructions” even mean??? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/13 "2016-05-08T23:58:50Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Again with the opinions, instead of facts. Is that what the TPTB are looking for in Great Debates? Yes, opinions fit in GD quite nicely, as in witnessing threads. That’s not the problem though is it? Someone makes a very minor mistake and you try to hijack a thread over it. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/14 "2016-05-09T00:00:17Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Yes, opinions fit in GD quite nicely, as in witnessing threads. That’s not the problem though is it? Someone makes a very minor mistake and you try to hijack a thread over it. Where do you draw the line about so called “minor” mistakes? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/15 "2016-05-09T00:09:28Z")
If I’m ever tempted to moderate GD someone hit me with something heavy. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/16 "2016-05-09T00:09:38Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Where do you draw the line about so called “minor” mistakes? Down here. * * * ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/17 "2016-05-09T00:11:10Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > No, I’m wondering why posters are allowed to post completely false information in Great Debates, but if I point it out, it draws a mod note. This statement is not true. If you point out the facts that demonstrate that the opinion is false, you will draw no notice from the Mods. If you make a personal attack on a poster because your opinion of what is a fact differs from theirs, you will draw the attention of the Mods. if you then make an issue of launching repeated personal attacks against posters because your opinion of what is a fact differs from theirs, you will be guilty of hijacking the thread, which will garner Mod attention. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/18 "2016-05-09T00:12:06Z")
Honestly, people here make mistakes. We accept that and, if it’s really necessary, we respond with something polite like, "you mean Seattle not Tacoma, right? We’re not ganging up on you, instead, we’re trying to get you to see that there were mistakes made and helping you avoid them in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/19 "2016-05-09T00:12:29Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > What does “follow simply instructions” even mean??? In this case, move along please. Just how much attention do you feel one instance of misspeaking requires? Declare victory and be done with it. Build a fire, coat your naked body in deer fat, beat a drum, and scream your victory to the skies. ETA: Oh dear, I see you were pointing to a typo. Otherwise known, I guess, as an opinion or false information. You got me! More deer fat. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347/20 "2016-05-09T00:12:33Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If I’m ever tempted to moderate GD someone hit me with something heavy. The only heavy thing around here is a banhammer. I don’t think any of us are allowed to touch it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facts-vs-opinions-in-great-debates/754347.md?page=2)