In my two fields of professional development (physical therapy and video game entertainment) I can easily find arguments pertaining to quality imbued with opinion. In medicine, one can always find a school of thought maintaining that an anterior lateral approach for total hip arthroplasty is more effective with shorter healing time than say, a posterior approach. Constantly, the technophiles will bicker about which video game console is more robust and better performing than another.

It would seem that there is this persistent insatiable urge for humans to believe that there is always something that is better than all the rest out there - and of course, that they support it.

Why so cut and dry? Why so black and white?

Sure, there are some stark realities out there. Take the velocity of an object falling to earth at a rate of 9.98m/sec2 as an example. There is no contesting that. How about the sun as the most potent form of energy available to this planet - the best energy source, if you will. Again no debate.

But why must people ridicule themselves with half facts and irate banter proliferating their good, better, best opinion about something they like merely for their own self importance?

Topics for debate regarding preferences or effectiveness must be looked at and communicated with a generous helping of ambiguity. Even a clause denouncing "drugs are bad" cannot be taken with straight shooting vigor. Of course, cocaine abuse is harmful, but aspirin has been known save people from irreversible heart attack damage. Both are drugs, but clearly, one is not all bad as the quoted statement may insinuate.

My point, abstract as it may be, is when engaging someone - anyone - in discussion with room for variance in emotional output, do not focus on always being right. Just because someone likes something does mean that it is right. And just because someone voices their own litany at more boisterous levels does not indicate that the one who acquiesced is inherently wrong. Use the time and exposure and differences in opinion as an opportunity for learning and knowledge sharing; we may find our fellow man far more tolerable if we understand that being right is not always what's best.