Opinions can be easily generated in your brain without any cost or real efforts. You can even just borrow it and recite it. Opinions may or may not be backed up by facts, and certainly skewed by your interpretation.
[I leave this note here to remind myself of the inherent cheapness of opinions, right before midterm election of 2018.]
If you want to add value to your opinion, there are a few ways.
(0) Have a name.
Anonymous or unrecognizable handle names don't count.
(1) Make it different from most others/value through rarity
by radicalizing it (take an extreme position). This is the path extremists take and I do not recommend it.
by making it otherwise unique (smart, clever, new, etc)
(2) Give credibility
by your actions (live your opinion). No hypocrite.
by becoming an expert (be an industry expert and have tangible results)
by external credentials (same as expert opinion)
(3) Make it useful or specifically applicable/value through timeliness and practicality
"Useful" is in the eye of beholder. Generic opinions don't work. Some opinions can work for specific person or situation, but they may not for others. For many pragmatic issues, having "useful" opinions at the right time and for the right person can add value. This is for a counselor, a coach, a doctor, an instructor, etc.
I do not recommend (4) and (5).
(4) Talk only to affirmative friends (the echo chamber method)
You can have a false sense of valued opinion by living in a small echo chamber.
(5) Use halo effect on someone who recognize your halo effect (the celebrity-and-fans, or the cult leader-member method)
Similar to (4). It works only in your small world.
....
Since my basic view on other people's opinions is like above, I do not value all opinions, but opinions by select few whom I trust.
Yes, trust and source are important.
I am still using my judgement on the person as a source, and delegating a part of my judgement to him.
Some people proposed to take even more strict approach than mine.
If you agree with this Buddha's "opinion" with your reason and common sense, believe it and practice it.
PS
This week I was working on a research manuscript that contains works by my summer student and graduate research assistant. Hoping to send it out soon.
Last Saturday (10/20/18), we had a memorial gathering for Paul Ramirez at the OKC swing dance club, where he spent so much time. Visiting there one last time in his urn was probably a good thing for him.
Some people proposed to take even more strict approach than mine.
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
— Buddha
— Buddha
If you agree with this Buddha's "opinion" with your reason and common sense, believe it and practice it.
PS
This week I was working on a research manuscript that contains works by my summer student and graduate research assistant. Hoping to send it out soon.
Last Saturday (10/20/18), we had a memorial gathering for Paul Ramirez at the OKC swing dance club, where he spent so much time. Visiting there one last time in his urn was probably a good thing for him.
