Hi,
"Context is everything. Everything is context."
Is there a difference between these two statements?
1. "The Patex Pigueron Submersible Travel Timer Big Date is one of the biggest rip offs in the watch industry."
2. "The Patex Pigueron Submersible Travel Timer Big Date is one of the biggest rip offs in the watch industry, in my opinion."
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I was brought up to always remember to say "please" and "thank you" and "good morning" and "good bye" and even today, I still strongly believe in opening and closing salutations in posts, emails, etc.
I'd use salutations in sms too but I have to learn to adapt to "reality" and evolution. In fact, for a short SMS that doesn't come close to the max characters, I still use opening salutations.
In conversations with different people of different backgrounds, I get quite a range of opinions about the above. I have met more than few people who feel that pleasantries like "Hi, ..." or "Dear..." or "IMHO..." are not only unnecessary, but in fact a waste of valuable bandwidth and typing efficiency, ie, wasted keystrokes.
One comment in particular sticks in my mind: "How stupid to add in forum posts, IMHO (in my humble opinion); OF COURSE it's your opinion."
I'm not sure I agree; in fact, I strongly disagree.
I can understand when a professional journalist or author needs to state even dubious "facts" as facts in a feature article (though I'd respect the author more if they took the time and effort to soften the statement. Doing this also tells me the author is not a complete moron stupidly and lazily repeating marketing bullshit. But still, I understand, in its proper context.)
I also understand why a materials scientist, or a bio-medical researcher, or a physicist, makes statements of "fact" in their fields of specialization, even if those "facts" are perhaps the subject of controversy (evolutionary biology is rife with this.) Same applies to graduated licensed pharmacologists, clergymen who have devoted decades, even lifetimes, to their religion; et al.
It is another thing entirely when bi-directional/multi-directional communication/conversation, such as most forum threads are, present questionable "facts" as FACT. This comes through in tone; in choice of words.
"Ferrari is the best car in the world." is an opinion.
"Lamborghini's are lemons" is an opinion.
"The engine puts out 563 bhp and can do 0-62 in 3.9 seconds" is either a lie, a fact, or blind regurgigation of either. But I don't think it can be an opinion.
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So,
how do you feel about "imho" or "my thoughts are"...
Is there a difference between facts and opinions?
Should communications preserve pleasantries like "Dear..." and "Hi..." and "Please..." and "Sincerely..."?
scratch scratch scratch...
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
TM