Do Aspies think their opinion is fact?

[Gomendosi]

I have read a lot of posts here recently and it strikes me that quite a few of us may believe that our opinion is in fact, fact.
It is acceptable that as an Aspie you may have done a lot of research on any given topic but I find quite a few purport to be somewhat of an authority and, whether by design or accident, it is implied.
Also, occasionally, upon challenge or request for elaboration/ verification, there is usually some sort of display of anger or imagined persecution which requires the person querying the original statement to defend, retract or apologise.
I am not saying that a person can't make any statement without a reference, just that often Aspies state opinions as fact and then get upset or feel picked on when they're questioned or contradicted...

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Sev]

I would say that it is a very valid observation. I personally find that when I come to a conclusion, I will often defend that opinion as much as I can. So I guess I can be slightly stubborn and instinctively assume my theories and conclusions are truth, when in reality they might not be so. Of course I'm sure this quality is not present in all Aspies (not to mention NTs), however, I have seen it become quite prominent here. Particularly where the tabooed subject of religion comes up, or when controversial topics are mentioned - pretty much anything without a definite, provable, *obvious* answer.

 

[nowwhat]

I'm sometimes guilty of this. In the one or two things where I am an actual expert, It usually is, and I make no bones about it. I've learned, tho, that logic is only so useful without experience, and have learned to keep my opinions to myself except in situations where I have a sort of consented status as expert or authority. People don't like being proven wrong repeatedly, or even listening to someone repeatedly be right. They really don't like it. I can even keep my mouth shut and watch people screw up, cause eventually, if you're around they'll ask and then you get to show your stuff.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I kind of think this quality is present in people in general. But perhaps NTs are less outspoken for reasons of social tact and diplomacy. However, if this is true of NTs, it is true only in real life not on the internet, because on the internet everyone is opinionated. Everyone. Even if their opinions are, in fact, junk. (And I will stand by that opinion of mine).

 

[bentHnau]

You mean that people literally mistake their opinion for fact, or that they are so certain that their opinion is the best, they feel no need to justify it?

 

[Ereth]

Unless I'm talking about something that's established fact, then no, I don't think my opinions are fact. Do I think my opinions are usually valuable? Yes. But I think that has less to do with my ASD and more to do with my desire to make decent contributions to discussions and debates.

 

[Loomis]

The discourse on this website is remarkably civil. To some extent this is due to good moderators; sometimes when a thread becomes too contentious the moderators wisely step in. But I believe it goes beyond good moderators and there is a genuine hesitation here by members to avoid offensive statements. This is also quite striking since aspies are known for speaking without restraint and unintentionally creating hard feelings. But we are a community on this site and we try to be supportive and think a little longer before responding.

Do we believe our opinions are fact? No, we understand other aspie's opinions may have validity and we tend to respect these differing opinions. Are we easily convinced we are wrong? No way. I suspect aspies are even more reluctant than NT's to be swayed to abandon an opinion. And when we make statements in our areas of expertise we are highly inflexible. We are quite attached to our strong convictions. After all we pride ourselves on being rational, pragmatic thinkers not prone to logical error.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I think one problem with this question is that the word "opinion" is too vague. Sometimes it means "anything someone thinks is true." Sometimes it means "Something someone thinks is true if htat thing very likely isn't true.". The equivocation of these two meanings (two differnet meainings getting mixed up in someone's mind so that when they hear a word they apply the wrong meaning to it) causes problems.

So in some cases an Aspie (or an NT) might have a correct "opinion" and might have evidence that is so good that he correctly thinks his "opinion" is fact.
In some cases an Aspie (or NT) might have an incorrect "opinion" supported by evidence, which he thinks is fact.
In some cases someone might have a correct "opinion" but have a few doubts whether it is true.

However, if someone really truly doesn't believe their opinion, if they don;'t think it's fact at all, then it's not their opinion. Part of the definition of someone's opinion is that the person thinks it is true.

 

[Chopstick]

NT's are guilty of this as well. My dad subscribes to a newspaper website with a paywall and he had to buy an account that uses his real name, which they checked and verified. They say using real names maintains civility and integrity on the forums, but these commenters are just as rude and abusive to each other as I would expect anonymous users to be. And too many of them believe that their opinions become fact simply through repeated affirmation. Some of them aren't even able to differentiate between a news article and an op-ed essay.

I have watched news programs at home where the pundit is spouting facts regarding the state of the economy, yet they're contrary to my own observed reality, so who is correct? Facts are subject to interpretation and can be manipulated to fit a predetermined conclusion. I do not mind a person questioning my assertions and asking for citation, which I will provide, but when they are not content to just disagree and must also insult me, I lose patience and remind them that I am NOT their research assistant and they should do their own homework.

 

[tlc]

If I know something (or think I do) based on research or observation, I'll say so. But I'll leave it at that, I won't fight for my point, others' research and observation is just as valid. And if I'm asked something I don't know, I'll be the first to say I don't know, I won't make up some line of BS.

 

[Christy]

I've noticed that on this forum too. I've also become aware that people give their advice, only to later find out they have absolutely NO experience in the matter what so ever. I find this particularly frustrating as I come to this place for advice because I think the advice of an aspie who has lived through what I'm struggling with will be more valuable that an NT who has live through it. But to later find out I've got the advice of an aspie who has no experience at all is even of less value to me again. I could think about it and make something up too!

It's something I've become aware of and now take my time to check their background before taking their advice seriously.

 

[rollerskate]

The discourse on this website is remarkably civil. To some extent this is due to good moderators; sometimes when a thread becomes too contentious the moderators wisely step in. But I believe it goes beyond good moderators and there is a genuine hesitation here by members to avoid offensive statements. This is also quite striking since aspies are known for speaking without restraint and unintentionally creating hard feelings. But we are a community on this site and we try to be supportive and think a little longer before responding.

Do we believe our opinions are fact? No, we understand other aspie's opinions may have validity and we tend to respect these differing opinions. Are we easily convinced we are wrong? No way. I suspect aspies are even more reluctant than NT's to be swayed to abandon an opinion. And when we make statements in our areas of expertise we are highly inflexible. We are quite attached to our strong convictions. After all we pride ourselves on being rational, pragmatic thinkers not prone to logical error.

Personally I build such sound arguments based on available evidence that the reason I'm hard to sway is because I expect just as solid of an argument back. If you can't knock out my supporting logic with your own, sorry buddy, but that's not enough. I listen to the other side though and I carefully weigh everything against each other, and will even research the other side so I know all the supporting data for it, so it's not like I'm completely closed minded. I just can't see the point in replacing a finished puzzle with one that has missing pieces all over the place.

 

[rollerskate]

I've noticed that on this forum too. I've also become aware that people give their advice, only to later find out they have absolutely NO experience in the matter what so ever. I find this particularly frustrating as I come to this place for advice because I think the advice of an aspie who has lived through what I'm struggling with will be more valuable that an NT who has live through it. But to later find out I've got the advice of an aspie who has no experience at all is even of less value to me again. I could think about it and make something up too!

It's something I've become aware of and now take my time to check their background before taking their advice seriously.

This is why I think source citation is so crucial in giving your opinion or advice. It lets the person know where you got it from and gives them the freedom to judge its validity on their own. Still sometimes I forget to do this, as I'm sure others do too.

 

[AgentPalpatine]

Many people I've met believe that their own opinion is fact. In most cases, this isn't a major problem, but an online site, it can lead to some...disagreements.

 

[Tarragon]

I think the discussions on AC are very very interesting. I have seen (and been involved in!) some really heated discussions (arguments?!) but they never seem to result in people falling out. And it can get very heated!

So, maybe there's a mutual feeling here where we are comfortable enough to argue, but not become personal and silly over it? Does this mean we are more happy to fight out corners and say what we want because we are more logical? Once we've had a good argument, that's it, move on?

Do we lack the emotional entanglement of a NT argument perhaps?

And, is this an advantage??

Just wondering. Maybe someone wants to do a phd on it!

 

[Judge]

I think the discussions on AC are very very interesting. I have seen (and been involved in!) some really heated discussions (arguments?!) but they never seem to result in people falling out. And it can get very heated!

So, maybe there's a mutual feeling here where we are comfortable enough to argue, but not become personal and silly over it? Does this mean we are more happy to fight out corners and say what we want because we are more logical? Once we've had a good argument, that's it, move on?

Good point, interesting subject. Yeah, I can't tell you how many real flame wars I see elsewhere online. Just not here. However "heated" some of our arguments may appear, they're nothing compared to what lurks outside this domain.

A big reason for spending more time here than "there".

 

[Christy]

I think the discussions on AC are very very interesting. I have seen (and been involved in!) some really heated discussions (arguments?!) but they never seem to result in people falling out. And it can get very heated!

So, maybe there's a mutual feeling here where we are comfortable enough to argue, but not become personal and silly over it? Does this mean we are more happy to fight out corners and say what we want because we are more logical? Once we've had a good argument, that's it, move on?

Do we lack the emotional entanglement of a NT argument perhaps?

And, is this an advantage??

Just wondering. Maybe someone wants to do a phd on it!

I know I don't represent all aspies, but I know when I am confronted with someone who wants to heatedly argue their opinion, the emotional toll on me is huge.

Perhaps what you perceive is that aspies are more willing to chalk up a disagreement to their own faults (given we all know we aren't the best at communicating) and therefor will forgive and forget rather than lay blame and therefor hold a grudge??

 

[cygx]

You're wrong about your opinion. If you're wrong about your opinion, you're probably wrong about more opinions. If you're wrong about more opinions, you're wrong about a lot of things. If you're wrong about a lot of things, you're probably wrong about almost everything. This throws your entire character into question.

I think it has something to do with the "taking it literally" aspect. Unless it's specifically stated that a disagreement is not an attack on my character, I tend to by default take that defensive position and defend my opinion as if the integrity of my character absolutely depends on it.

 

[rollerskate]

You know, I find the heated debates take a huge emotional drain on me too. I usually just ditch in the middle of them, which I know probably seems trollish but I have no reason to stick around and get my time, energy, and emotions wasted over some random debate. But with a good debate that isn't all personal and angsty, this never happens to me, and I usually finish feeling refreshed and like I have expanded my conscientiousness/intellect by learning a new angle on the topic.

 

[Warwick C]

Good on you Rollerskate for knowing where to draw a line, it is also when you are talking to a brick wall can be a situation