• SeanRenaud said on Feb 19, 2008....

  There is a definitely difference between an opinion and a fact.  It's my opinion that Cookies and Cream is the greatest Ice Cream known to man.  It is a fact that cheese is a dairy product.
   
  The only times where these things can get twisted is in politics and the like.  I would state it as a fact that socialism and communism are bad ideas, but  others would disagree and site reasons why.

• seawitch said on Feb 19, 2008....

  A fact is something that can be proven. An opinion is a belief.  

• SoulTruth said on Feb 20, 2008....

  Thank you SeanRenaud. Your explanation makes sense. Leave it to politics to twist the two.
  
  Thank you seawitch. But can a belief ever be proven to be a fact? Just a question that came to mind. It may or may not have an answer, so please don't be offended by my asking it.
  

• SeanRenaud said on Feb 20, 2008....

  I think more realistically a fact is something that HAS been proven.  If you'd asked George Washington if people could build machines that fly, he would have said no.  Of beam information around the globe.  These were "facts" at the time.  There wasn't anything that even suggested that such a thing might one day be possible at that time.
   
  At the same time the Wright Brothers held a belief/opinion that man could one day fly, and they kept trying until they did.  Their "belief" became a fact.

• SoulTruth said on Feb 20, 2008....

  Cool Sean. It seems like opinions/beliefs of a certain time period can end up becoming proven facts later on in time. Your ability to explain it helps me understand it even better. Thank you!

• secretlife said on Feb 21, 2008....

  i think you can back up your beliefs with facts....and then of course that is what we humans do...deductive reasoning...
   
  For example, I believe my daughter is trustworthy.because she:
   
  - has never done anything to get in trouble with anyone at school.
  - has never lied to me that i am aware of
  - comes in by curfew
  - does what she says she will do
   
  etc, etc - you get the idea
   
  but opinion is what you think....or feel.
  while fact has been proven...it is not subjective

• SeanRenaud said on Feb 21, 2008....

  Ditto.

• SoulTruth said on Feb 21, 2008....

  So opinion is not the same thing as belief. That's what I deduce from
  your argument secretlife. How do you separate belief from
  opinion? Isn't belief something you think? I understand that fact has to be proven.
  That has been proven! HaHa
  
  Sean, you agree with secretlife's argument? Just checking.
  
  Deductive reasoning is something I am fammiliar with from prior
  experience so I believe I understand that aspect of the argument.
  
  Thank you secretlife and Sean.
  

• SeanRenaud said on Feb 21, 2008....

  I think you need to read it twice.  I did and I had the wrong opinion the first time.
   
  A belief and an opinion are similar (if not identical) they vary from person to person.  Not only based on reality but based on perception.  Say I saw Secret's daughter with two  or three guys.  I would/could assume she was a skank and a liar.  However she might not only be completely open the guys but she might just be their science tutor.  All I know is I saw them going into their houses late at night. 
   
  However the fact that she has gone to these people's houses is a fact and that she is a night owl could be established.  Trust me I almost shot her down then read it again and realized that she was stating that her opinion is that her daughter is trustworthly, she clearly distinguished it from a fact.

• secretlife said on Feb 21, 2008....

  i think like sean, that belief and opinion are kissing cousins.
   
  but i think beliefs are comprised of many opinions-  they're 'bigger' if you will than one single opinion.
   

• SoulTruth said on Feb 22, 2008....

  Ohhh, okay. That makes more sense to me now. Belief and opinion are
  related, yet not always necessarily perceived to be the same thing. It
  depends on an individual's perception.
  
  I think I got you now secretlife! All your opinions add up to a whole
  belief. Like in the example you gave about your daughter being
  trustworthy.
  
  Did I get it now? I sure hope so!
  
  Thank you Sean and secretlife.
  

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