The truth versus your opinion?

Question

I am finding that a lot of people are passing their "opinion" off as the "truth" on the dogs section. With dogs I know there are experts that study dogs, but I must say until a dog can speak it is only an "opinion". How can you justify telling someone that they don't like to hear the "truth" when it is not the "truth"it is an "opinion".
Example: Your dog does not miss it's testicles (how do you know it does not)
Example : You should not be breeding your dog (now that is an "opinion")
How can you keep calling these statements TRUTH

No way to test for fact if a dog misses it's testicles unless there is new evidence that dogs can speak that I have not heard about.

Nancy M : Funny thing I agree with your last statement (only your last) which is why I posted this question.

Jax if you haven't seen it a million times "you just don't like to hear the truth" that is the statement I am talking about I would post questions here to give examples but last time I did that I got blasted.

Yes this is definately my opinion

Thanks for all your opinions so far.

Answer 1

I only answer questions to the best of my ability. They are always my opinion because I'm not a dog expert.

I figure people can take what I say and either research it some more, ignore it or consider what I said as part of their decision regarding their question.

I honestly don't know if anyone takes anything I say to heart or not. I've gotten a couple of emails from someone about training or housebreaking issues where I helped someone. I also got some good feedback about Lab questions or adoption stuff. That stuff I tend to feel like I have a little more experience with.

I honestly don't want to force my opinion on anyone. I hope they ignore me if they don't like what I write.

Answer 2

The meaning of the word truth extends from honesty, good faith, and sincerity in general, to agreement with fact or reality in particular.[1] The term has no single definition about which the majority of professional philosophers and scholars agree. Various theories of truth continue to be debated. There are differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth; how to define and identify truth; the roles that revealed and acquired knowledge play; and whether truth is subjective, relative, objective, or absolute. This article introduces the various perspectives and claims, both today and throughout history. (Wikipedia)

There are many truths out there. And there is no way to tell absolute truth. So, when a question is asked about breeding we do tell a truth. There ARE too many unwanted dogs out there that die because some moron wants an extra buck. Can you prove a dog DOES miss it's testicles? No. So it's an unknown factor. Any opinion that can be supported with evidence is as close to the truth as possible. What was the point of this question? To get away with ranting about neutering and anti-breeding??

Answer 3

I think that is pretty much the case for EVERY section of Yahoo! Answers. People give the truth as they know or understand it.. basically opinion for almost everything on here.
So I am not sure why you are so surprised. That is the forum.
In my opinion people generally post a question looking for validation of the opinion they already have. They want to see that people have similar opinions so they can feel good about their choices.
Other times people just see this as a research tool a way to get leads to think more directly about questions. I doubt anyone on here takes each statement as the facts since there is never consensus. It is basically a forum for hearing different sides of an argument and making your own decision.

Answer 4

I never try to call my opinions truth. I merely state them as if they are :) And for the two examples that you have listed, you could probably do experiments to see if they are fact or not. I personally have never noticed a personality change in a neutered dog-most do not even look down there to see that their testicles are missing. As far as the second example, someone should not be breeding their dog if it endangers the dog's health (a chihuahua bred to a mastiff, for example). That is cruelty and endangers their dog. Not an opinion, a fact. Have a nice day.
Edit: Ok...perhaps you did not understand. As dogs cannot talk, the only evidence we have as to their feelings is body language and behavioural changes. How do you tell if a baby misses something? It cries. Last I checked, babies can't talk either...but you still know how they feel.

Nancy M: ROTFLMAO...."the cat thing". You just made my day. I've always thought that perhaps I should shorten my username :) Camus (the cat thing--he's a devon rex) agrees with your answer, by the way.

Answer 5

You have some really good answers so far.

I just want to add that it is not only the dog section on Answers....it is also the Religion section (in which people claim THEY are the ones that know the "truth") It is also all over the internet. In fact, it is a part of life. I've always heard that there are three truths...My truth, Your truth, and THE truth. Whatever we claim as truth is to the best of our knowledge....a few years ago we would have all said it is true that Pluto is a planet...now, it appears that was just a bunch of opinions. :)

Answer 6

i agree with your statement. i watch other news channels, far and away, fox is the most fair. when you are watching channels that are constantly one-sided anything that is fair seems biased. we the public, need to keep our eyes open. this admin. says they will not do away with the fairness doctrine but there are back door ways of accomplishing the same thing. fox beats their cable competition by better than 2 to 1 so obama is trying to use his position to marginalize them. if you want to hear the president speak on a particular policy or plan fox will be kept out of the loop. his top aides will not appear on fox but will gladly appear on the other we love obama news networks. does anyone get the point? why did gun sales skyrocket after the election? people thought congress would repeal the 2nd amendment. they don't have to, people. they can raise taxes on the ammunition to where you can't afford it, thus leave the 2nd amendment as is but accomplish the goal. consider the new taxes on cigarettes and alcohol as an example. it's the old shell game theory. don't listen to the words, watch the actions.

Answer 7

I have yet to see an answer that is stated as being the truth. Such as, "It is true that Norwegian Elkhounds rarely bark." Or, "The fact is that your dog doesn't miss his testicles."

I assume that all of the answers given on this site, with the exception of the 'knowledge partners' are opinion.

Many people also post links to their references.

Generally we are asking for advice.

An example of truth: MY Norwegian Elkhound sheds constantly. However, she is very sweet, great with kids, and rarely barks. It's not my opinion, it's the truth about MY dog.

Should we all begin our answers with "In my opinion"?

What I hate on here is plagiarism, many people cut and paste their extensive answers without crediting the source. I've found many of these answers are the first link that comes up on google.

EDIT: I should mention that you did bring up a good question, and an interesting debate. :)

Answer 8

Personally, and this is just my opinion. LOL No one knows a dog better than their owner. Yes, I will agree that a professional vet is needed in many cases...but someone has to have the common sense to take the dog to the vet. Many times a stranger will not pick up on inconsistencies, like an owner.

FYI : When I read those strong statements yahoo people like to pass off as the truth, I smile...and move on. While it's nice to get OPINIONS from other people now and then...no one know your pet better than you!

Answer 9

I would think, most comments on this site and most others, are just that, Opinions!! I would hope that if I asked a question, I would get a response from people that have been through it already with their own animal!! Because I am smart enough to distinguish between the facts and the opinions of others, and I am sure most others are too!!

Answer 10

So you are saying that dogs are intelligent enough to know their body parts? I would wager a HUGE HUGE bet that they don't miss their testicles because they don't know what testicles are - by their behaviour! Ever seen a dog longingly stare at where its testicles used to be? Stare in the mirror at where they used to be? Howl while looking at them?

What about dogs that lost a leg - ever see on act depressed? Nope, they simply go on with life. Life for them is - it is what it is.

It is truth that dogs don't mate because they are in love with one another and want to start a family. And that's a reason that some people give for wanting to breed - my dog wants a family. No it doesn't! It's a natural instintual feeling that any animal has - to reproduce. It's animal nature/instinct. They don't think about whether or not that's a good idea. they don't think to visit the doctor ahead of time to get all examined, make sure they are healthy enough to bear "children". They don't discuss any genetic tests with their doctor - things to look for to see if they are healthy enough to make "children". They don't schedule their ultrasounds, they don't schedule their x-rays, they don't schedule a c-section just in case. They aren't CAPABLE of thinking with that level of rationale or intelligence. It therefore becomes OUR job as higher level thinkers to do this for them.

Not breeding your dog if you aren't going to do all of these things for the dog is downright irresponsible. Would you simply sleep around with a bunch of men until you got pregnant just to have a kid? And then would you never go to the doctor to make sure that it wasn't breech? No - you wouldn't.

So sorry my dear - it's not an opinion - it is indeed fact. It's factual that if people won't do the most important things to ensure the safe breeding, whelping, and home finding for the pups, then it is FACT that they shouldn't be breeding.