Do opinions matter? I used to think of opinions as clouds in the sky. They can take any shape. They go whichever way the wind blows. They disappear very easily. They can be light, or dark, big or small. They can make the world dark and cold, or filter the sun so it's not quite as harsh. But we are always asking people for their opinion as if it is something concrete. Is it because of our need to enjoy being in the majority? If enough people share an opinion, does that make it right? Should rule of law be based, ever, on opinion? If not, how do you define right or wrong?

Opinions matter to the extent they establish a person's position, albeit temporarily. Trouble comes up when we expect that position to stay the same. But opinions are volitale. remember? I would expect a person to change their opinion in time, or as they learn new things (or forget old things). I hate being asked what I think of a person, because I only want to consider my experience, and if that doesn't match up with the majority, I have a problem. In my opinion, a person can only be judged by the experiences they have with you. Otherwise, you are basing opinion off of hearsay. Granted, in some cases that's not a bad idea. But is it right to allow our opinions to be shaped by those whose perspective is necessarily completely different?