In general, an opinion is a judgment, viewpoint, or statement about matters commonly considered to be subjective.
What distinguishes fact from opinion is that facts are verifiable, i.e. can be objectively proven to have occurred. An example is: "United States of America was involved in the Vietnam War" versus "United States of America was right to get involved in the Vietnam War". An opinion may be supported by facts, in which case it becomes an argument, although people may draw opposing opinions from the same set of facts. Opinions rarely change without new arguments being presented. It can be reasoned that one opinion is better supported by the facts than another by analyzing the supporting arguments. In casual use, the term opinion may be the result of a person's perspective, understanding, particular feelings, beliefs, and desires. It may refer to unsubstantiated information, in contrast to knowledge and fact.
Collective or professional opinions are defined as meeting a higher standard to substantiate the opinion. (see below)
Opinions was a British talk programme broadcast on Channel 4 television in the 1980s and 1990s. According to Time magazine, Opinions gave "a public figure 30-minutes of airtime each week to expound on a controversial topic (Germaine Greer on Margaret Thatcher, Edward Teller on nuclear defence)". "A speaker could express his or her own views straight to camera for 30 minutes" "an earnest of Channel 4's faith and mission to bring edgy, alternative fare to the public and to excite reaction".
During the time it was produced by Open Media, the series featured such figures as Edward de Bono, Alan Clark, Linda Colley, James Goldsmith, Paul Hill, Dusan Makavejev, G.F. Newman, George Soros and Norman Stone. One - by Dennis Potter, in 1993 - was given a cinema screening by the BFI in July 2014.
Among those appearing in the Opinions 1993 debate in Westminster Central Hall about democracy in Britain chaired by Vincent Hanna were Zaki Badawi, Christopher Hitchens, Paul Kennedy, Michael Mansfield, David Miliband, Geoff Mulgan, Vincent Nichols, Jonathan Sacks, Nancy Seear and Crispin Tickell.
One, Two, Three, Four
Frustrated with what's going on
I feel lost and I don't feel right
Tell me what I can do to make
Them happy, but then will I be happy
I can't do wrong, I can't do right
I feel so alone tonight
I wish someone could feel
And understand the way I think
They got me on the brink
Of self destruction
I wish someone could feel
People surround me fill my head
With opinions of what they think is right
I can't do wrong, I can't do right
I feel so alone tonight
I wish someone could feel
And understand the way I think
They got me on the brink
Of self destruction
I wish someone could feel
I can't do wrong I can't do right
I wonder where you are tonight
I wish that you were here
To understand the way I think
You know they got me on the brink
Of self destruction
I wish someone could feel