Opinions As Opiate

I like this graphic depiction by Jessica Hagy on opinions because I find it poignantly relevant.

While Ms. Hagy calls it Opinions are like bellybuttons, I would call this ‘opinions as opiate’.

For me, the proportion of mainstream opinions are tilted towards what Ms. Hagy describes as based on low evaluations:

- parroting someone else ideas or regurgitating statements like an incantation or

-engaging in nice sounding political or economic talking points that in the end only signifies gossip.

Since gossips are hardwired on us for social/peer acceptance or for “feel good” or for attention generating or for self-esteem purposes, this may seem like an opiate. After all, gossips are hardly premised on sound evaluation but mostly on heuristics or mental short-cuts.