Actually, we were taught the difference between facts and opinions in elementary school.

Liberals were upset just a few months ago that corporations were getting huge tax cuts. Now that Trump is trying to put an end to the trade deficits, liberals are crying that companies can't weather tarriffs. I don't think they have the mentality to see the big picture. Trump is setting our country up to be able to flourish.

well Miss harmony you and I dont agree on much but this one I absolutely agree with you 100%

shocking isn't it?

Doesn't always matter.
I mean it doesn't matter if it's a fact you never cheated on your boyfriend if their opinion is that you did.

It's part of the decision making process.
What's more important in the context of your wanted/needed/desired outcome.

Of course sometimes it absolutely matters.
It doesn't matter if it's a fact most birds can fly, your opinion that flapping your wings like a bird will keep you aloft when jumping off a building won't change the outcome.


That doesn't mean much.
For all I know the surveyor called during dinner and most people wanted to get off the phone so just randomly selected a few options.

For all I know the surveyor group targeted specific people and worded the questions in a biased way.

Surveys and polls are worth little more than opinion when they aren't accompanied by the factual information in how the information was obtained and couched in very specific phraseology including limiting conditions.


How can they make this conclusion?
For all I know they think it is accurate and are therefore calling it factual, rather than calling it factual and thereby believe it is accurate.
And for all I know the people polled have information available to them the pollsters don't that actually prove the "opinion" given in the context of the conversation with the pollster as factual.


Based on that definition, then, it's a fact that all Chinese people type with their toes when no ones looking, and that I love my mother, wife, or kid could never be factual.


I think you're wrong for a couple of reasons.
I think a "major in English" would need far more skills in logic and analysis than a science or med school.
IMO it takes far more logic and analysis in order to figure out where another person is coming from, how they are communicating, how they are using words, how words are heard and understood, what associations and definitions people are using, perspectives of stories, or whatever an "english major" actually means, to go back and forth from their influences, to overcome your own inherent social biases, for objectivity, and then figuring out how to translate the biases you objectively define they have, translate them through your own biases objectively in order to understand them, then try to objectively communicate that to others, as opposed to analyzing a static object or natural phenomenon that can be accurately reproduced over and over and over again.

At best it's the same degree of logic and analysis needed, but understanding and being able to switch perspectives to communication biases is just as important as "logic and analysis" for an "english major."

Other than that, I disagree that a science or med school student needs a "bit more."
I think "logic and analysis" is what's "supposed" to be being taught from grade school to everyone, the same degree, so people can apply it to what they want in the future, whether it be english or science or med school degrees or just plain jobs.

If common sense was obtained through a college degree our founding fathers would have been screwed.

I am an honest person.
Most of my life I was gullible.
This is because I am honest, Not my intelligence level.
I am very intelligent.

Because I am honest I used to assume other people were honest.
Why would they lie?

It wasn't until I gained the wisdom to understand myself that I could understand other's capacity for deception.

The difference now is that while I still expect honesty from others, I know they have the capacity for dishonesty.
I've learned to question their validity and listen (pay more attention) to what I am being told.

Consider that the power elite want opinionated NEWS.
Consider that by slowly exposing everyone to opinionated NEWS people are slowly being accustomed to having others think for them.
Add to that goal the advertising strategies.
Add to that agenda the television shows and games.

This is how you should think, this is what you should buy, this is how you should act.
When a population can be controlled by manipulation it is a vital step to keeping the power elite in power.
Manipulation of focus is a vital tool for redirecting/misdirection of the people away from the real hidden agendas.

"Let's give them something to talk about so they don't pay attention to what we are actually doing"

personally I rather deal with a person that has common sense vs a high educated person with no common sense as we see in modern day post secondary institutions .

For example I dont know if you know this story but there was a Professor at a university her name is Randa Jarrar made an awful comment about the passing of Barbara Bush earlier this year.

This is a tenure professor, you cant tell me she has common sense,because anyone with common sense would not have said the things she said even though she is entitled to her opinions and free speech.

Yes, I've realized that sense is usually not common anymore.

If you consider today's society as a single personality you can see the insanity.
Society is narcissistic and deluded.
It has been shaped that way over a long period of time.
Society is supposed to be unified.
That's the whole reason for a society - all people under a common goal.
Anymore, its all about me, me, me.
I want it all, I want it now and when I get it, I want more, now.

There is rampant focus on negativity.
Media gives society negativity and that is how they flourish.

If you are glued to your TV, game or phone you are not paying attention to the world around you. People have their minds on what was said during the NEWS instead of focusing on life.

Actually, "common sense" is one of the dicier metaphors or idiomatic expressions we have.

It actually originated as an insult of sorts, saying that "commoners think that's logical, but the lords and ladies of the world know it's nonsense."

It also was used to refer to how there were entirely different reasons to do things, and that "commoners" had to do things that those above them did not.

More recently, it's most often used by people who want to avoid putting in the work needed to show that their idea of what to do is better than what is being done, using facts and logic. So instead, they post or say insults about the people they oppose, and cover their own lack of coherent thought, by saying "it's common sense."

Ironically, that is why we often say that it's uncommon to find people with "common sense."

A while back I watched a segment on a black woman who had several degrees. She was very smart and graduated top of her class. She worked as a dog walker. Her hair made tuna Turner look calm. She would bounce around dancing like she was straight out of the jungle. She couldn't fit into society. She didn't have enough common sense to look appropriate when applying for work. She acted like she was ready for the club instead of being serious for work. She doesn't need a hs diploma to walk dogs. How many people today do you see with diplomas that are unemployed and lives are in shambles? How many people today do you see that have no formal education but are thriving?

I really didn't understand your point? because she looked like she came straight out of the jungle? what does that even mean?

Anyways Ive seen plenty of people with degrees working dead end or retail jobs.

Most kids especially within the last two decades have worthless degrees, in my city we have a company called "bell Canada" their Customer service department have the highest numbers of College/university grads working there.

People with masters and a few PHD's that cannot get a job in their chosen field.

Ive seen many master degree graduates, mind you they have degrees or majored in ( as you Americans say) subject that is useless in the real world working at places like Starbucks or retail.

Most people who dont have formal education and has thrived are usually entrepreneurs , prior to globalization those that didn't have formal education had high paying factory or manufacturing jobs to go to, now they dont and if they are not entrepreneurs they are working dead end jobs or service types of jobs.

Yeah, I don't use the words "common sense".
I usually use some type of phrase that implies 'reason based on wisdom'.
People have the capacity for imagination and although someone may not have experienced (gain wisdom) on something they can observe and imagine outcomes which allows them to make reasonable decisions.
I call that ability "smart"; To make a decision based on something besides wisdom because it is reasonable.

The unified school system teaches certain requirements.
This is so all people have common knowledge (supposed to be) so they can function in unity in society.
This unity of thought processes or "common sense" breaks down when the common knowledge taught is not learned.
The K-12 school system's job is to give everyone common knowledge and the higher university's job is to teach specifics. The common knowledge is vital to the university so if the student doesn't have 'common sense' it adversely affects the effectiveness of the higher education.
It also affects the person's ability to function in society.

Lack of common knowledge gives rise to gullibility and delusional thinking.
Someone with 'common sense' is more apt to say "Hey Wait a Minute, I Know Better" instead of "Okay".

I have a friend who was taking a class here and there trying to get his degree. When he was 2 classes away he quit because he realized he didn't need it. It won't get him anymore $$. He has a 6 figure salary working for Ga power. He buys property on the side and remodels it and is a builder too.

I worked in manufacturing and bought investment property. My son works in manufacturing now and we both are hoping for another housing down turn. Isn't the point of a degree to make money?

are you saying there isnt an English Major? seriously/?

because as long as there is, Im not out of touch at all ...

Like I said before, it was taught in elementary school.

based on the OP numbers .. it must not have been taught particularly well

People don't have the same ability to learn.

haaa ... okay.

And speaking of facts and opinions, many journalists and main street media and throw in the left mixes up facts and opinions

they report stories based on their point of view.

case in point look at the reports on Donald J.Trump.

100 years from now students will be using this as a case study on journalism and main street media reporting their bias and views vs being independent and reporting actual news.

It's sad that what the 1st lady is wearing has become major news.

I wonder why they would use Trump as the case study, he waged war on media, media fought back.

I think there would be better examples.