Growing up it was the sign of a lively, intelligent and questing mind to have an view on everything. To not have one would be considered indicative of sheeplike behaviour somehow.

About six years ago I decided all that was bollocks, and these days one of my favourite things to say is, 'I don't know,' or, 'I don't have an opinion on that'. Maybe it's tantamount to saying, 'I'm a thicko,' but I found it quite liberating.

I might do the same.

If I don't have an opinion then I shut up. I don't comment on all threads for that reason. But sometimes I do have things I *have* to get off my chest and here there's always room for that it seems.

and I'm often overawed by the confidence with which some people express their opinions, even the ones that sound like they were formed in the time it took to type them.

But I don't think the options are as black and white as take part or walk away. It's okay to drift in and out, and if you don't contribute, it doesn't mean your view (ie. "I have nothing of interest to contribute to this topic") isn't a valid one.

whatever, don't really care one way or t'other

the problem is everyone always seems to think their opinion is more right and more valid than that of everyone else.

Let's hear what you think.

To let us know your views, you can:

- Call on 09013 123456
- Text on 12345
- Email on pointlessviews@wedontcare.com

To be fair, audience interaction has been around for some quite considerable time, it's just that much more instant now.

Letters pages in magazines and newspapers are as old as the hills and requests on radio are just as archaic.

And at least opinion means that companies/brands can no longer live in a vacuum where they think that what they're doing is always right and the little people, ie us, can let our opinions be known.

Unfortunately, the majority of opinions aren't worth shit, are they? ;o)

you can just join with threads like "Fray Bentos" and "Record Shops of Yesteryear", those ones certainly enrich my life

Radioheid are pish! BTW

I visit this site every day and really enjoy reading the blog but only very rarely do I post. When I do, it is usually just some idiotic joke or a half-formed opinion that I've sort of had in my head for a while and is only tenuously related to the thread topic.

So why not just come along and not say anything? Join those of us who sit in the stalls and chuckle along, rather than leaping up on stage and grabbing the mic?

an opinion about this.

In all sincerity mate, I've really enjoyed reading your posts. I firmly hope you have a change of heart.....

where has markiechops gone? Apologies if I've missed something here (I was out of the country last week), but I just checked on "the awfulness of list songs" thread and all his contributions had "not verified" next to them and the thread starter was "anonymous"

But there was the beautiful irony.

In posting, you immediately erased the notion you have nothing left to say, purely by having something to say.

Don't stay a stranger too long...

We could do with some more Massive music in the future. (When you get bored of reading that is - see you in 3 years time!)

but life today is full of other people's opinions - you can't escape it - the computer social networking boom and things like You Tube and Twitter have just given everyone a platform to "express themselves" and be their own little stars - problem is there is no quality control.

But the Word site is one place where I don't mind reading people's views and opinions and I enjoy the banter and tips about music, books and movies. I've discovered stuff I wouldn't normally have done and learned a few things along the way and even had my own opinion changed on occasion too (still don't get Elbow though..!)

Be a shame if you neglect this place though, to me it is a refreshing haven from the dark side of all the media/information overload surrounding us today.

I've enjoyed your contributions, and greatly appreciated your support of the music-making.

I hope you decide to pop back

All the best

e h m

isn't the idea that "I don't want to listen to other people's opinions because they're only interested in their own" in danger of behaving just like the people you (rightly in some cases) criticise?

Yes some opinions are worth more than others, yes some people approach the whole thing with a "me me me" attitude, but often they don't (at least on this site). Different people's points of view help us see that the world is not black and white, and I really appreciate it when there's a good crowd like the Massive!

but nowhere near as often as I post here, and I don't browse other sites as much as this one. I think this place is a little special; we're one hell of a broad church where we appreciate the irony that in moaning that 'every asshole has a bloody opinion' we're accepting our own imperfections! Or at least I am.

I think you should, perhaps, consider this to be a quieter corner of t'internet. Yes it might well be all shouty shouty OMGs and LOLs and such like out there, but here, even the half considered opinions tend to come with an apology for said half-baked-ness attached, and for that we should be grateful; meanwhile, the well considered opinions (and not to mention the jokes) are worth the price of subscription alone. Oops - hope Mr H doesn't read this and get any ideas.

Leave, if you will, but we'll miss you and your like. Perhaps you might just want to re-adjust your resolution ever so slightly?

Perfectly understand your decision...but i do hope you will be joining us for a totally non-virtual pint at the end of January?

Have a good break/life!

you were one of the posters here I felt I could identify with. All the best.

before Christmas. You can't do cold turkey, you'll be sitting twiddling your thumbs in the next couple of days and you'll click your link and something will tickle your fancy and you'll be off again. Don't fight it, don't pretend you don't like it, join in when your interested and look away when your not.
Merry Christmas

Does anyone else read the comments and opinions on the Daily Mail website ? They are either hilarious or worrying

Today there is a lot of approval for the lynching and attempted burning of a female robber, as the orginal poster says - there is too much opinion

There is too much opinion around. And too many places where one might air it. The opinions posted here, though, tend to be interesting. Con, to my mind, has the right idea of sitting back and enjoying the debate, surfacing now and then to pop in the odd pithy bon mot.

I, for one, should try that approach.

...to just raise a topic. For instance on the radio this morning they were saying that people watch on average three and a half hours' TV a day. Since most days I barely watch any, that must mean that some people are watching eight hours. And how are they doing that?