I don't know
Admit it. We don't know shit about most things and are barely informed to give an opinion about something. But whenever someone poses a question on anything, may it be a political issue, gay rights, or some religious matter, we always seem to have an opinion!
We all know that guy who has an opinion about everything. Even if it is something he has no idea about, he will say something.
Lately, I have realized that putting out an opinion for the sake of doing it is harmful.
First of all, most subjects are not black and white. Take politics or religion. There's a lot under the surface that one cannot grasp completely.
Secondly, one cannot simply know about everything. It's just a fact. You're probably not suited well enough to talk about many things. When you do so, you're just proving your ignorance.
Thirdly, your opinion can leave the listener astray, especially if they look up to you. I had a mentor once who I respected. But some of the business advice he gave me was simply bad. He had no idea what he was talking about.
There's also another way.
Next time you need to put your opinion out there, stop for a second. Think. Can you really give an opinion that applies to the context? Are you informed enough to provide an opinion on the matter? If the answer is "no," you can best say, "I don't know."
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