The value of opinion

In my opinion, the most beautiful castle in the world (Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany)
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Why do we value the opinions of others? Well, when those opinions are from people we know and trust, it makes those expressions very important to us. You don't even necessarily need to personally know them. For instance, newscasters enjoy wide support, celebrities are given points for their fame, and if your best friend tells you to listen to someone's opinion then I'll bet you will. On the other hand, I sure wouldn't care what the fellow down the street thinks about my favorite restaurant, or a passing pedestrian says regarding a new movie.

The fascinating thing about all this, is opinion is a mercilessly personal aspect of life. A food critic may have decades of experience, yet it's still a personal opinion (though based on wide experience). This makes opinion a very dicey proposition. Why do we care so much about what other people think? Well, I believe it's because it's part of the many intricate connections that bind us all together. We deeply want to strengthen those ties, so we let people we know influence our own choices. So, when people grow more important to you, so do their opinions; it's only natural.

This also creates the strange realm of the professional reviewer. Usually, these people have wide experience in their chosen field, and so speak from that background. The rest of us seek out these opinions, in the idea that the reviewer knows what they're talking about. But, it's still just an objective opinion, so isn't something you can measure--kind of like how ice skating and gymnastics are judged. So, it's also an opinion if an opinion is an opinion to be trusted. And, that's my opinion on the matter ...

- M