In today’s culture, openly sharing opinions seems to have become more and more intimidating. This conflict is seen primarily when discussing hot-button issues. When it comes to specific topics, it can seem like there’s only one position to stand by and to say otherwise is absurd, which is at times understandable since sometimes opinions are formed from hate. Challenging opinions is just as important as sharing opinions. While people might initially be intimidated about sharing their viewpoints due to a fear of harsh critique, being challenged on our beliefs allows growth. We are constantly learning and changing, and opinions are one of the many aspects that alter over time; entering a conversation with this in mind can be reassuring. 

Individuals should be able to openly share their perspectives as long as they’re not promoting hate speech or spreading threats. Having an awareness of how words impact others allows people to think critically about their own opinions. This awareness reminds people to evaluate whether or not their statements are conducive to a given discussion. Words can carry weight, so as we contribute to a conversation, taking a moment to think about what we are going to say is vital. 

A lot of the time, when someone shares their personal opinion, those who think differently will try to persuade them to agree with their own outlook. Though these people feel it’s necessary to try to change someone’s opinion, talking at someone instead of talking with them isn’t practical. It either strengthens their original beliefs or dissuades them from sharing in the first place. Creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing and discussing their views is important for productive discourse. Openly sharing opinions can create open discussion surrounding issues that are hard to digest alone. During the discussion, people can simply challenge and present arguments in a way that’s not too forceful. If someone wishes to change their perspective one can highlight more of their insights as a way to provide guidance. Some might view challenging opinions as unsettling, but that’s how some of the best discussions start. 

As important as it is to maintain an open mind during discussions, it is just as important to be confident in your own opinions. It can be hard to have confidence in sharing and challenging opinions due to potential harmful pushback. On social media, one of the many realms that our generation uses to voice our opinions, there’s often cruel pushback to opinions people disagree with. This pushback can be even more intimidating if this takes place in a public environment such as the internet or even in the classroom. The internet especially can be quite dangerous, since there are a lot of individuals who seek to bash people who don’t share the same opinions as them. There are also many people who intentionally use social media to spread hate. 

When it comes to classroom discussions, it can be challenging for some people to express their viewpoints because of the fear of saying something “wrong” and being viewed a certain way by the class. However, sharing opinions in classroom settings can cause connections to form. I’ve noticed that within Oberlin’s community, there are active discussions surrounding hot-button issues, even in casual settings. But when it comes to classroom settings, people are a little more hesitant. Let’s continue to have open minds in and out of the classroom to create a comfortable environment that can allow people to share their opinions. Someone might share the same perspective as you. Bouncing opinions and ideas off one another can allow people to understand the class content better. 

While this is a positive outlook, there remains this pressure of being like-minded within a communal space. How does one overcome this hesitation to share opinions?

Opinions don’t define us because they can change. I’ve noticed this belief going around that “people are too sensitive nowadays,” which is contributing to this hesitation with sharing opinions. Speaking out about issues and sharing opinions should not be seen as “sensitive,” which has contributed to people not wanting to share their opinions.  

Sharing opinions is a somewhat vulnerable task since they’re often based on personal experiences or how we’ve been brought up. This vulnerability might cause some to feel like they shouldn’t share their opinions at all. Nonetheless, opinions don’t necessarily determine what type of person you are; they highlight a stance or perspective. Opinions are not set in stone; as people grow, opinions grow, so we should all share them to continue learning. Opinions can force people to remember these matters and initiate change.