Is This Statement True or Just an Opinion

Even though they may involve facts, they do not make factual (provable) claims, and therefore they are, in a sense, neither true nor false in the same way an objective claim is true or false. They are outside the realm of what is verifiable. For example, consider the following subjective claims: ...

When determining facts behind a claim, it’s important to look for data and statistics that support your view. On the other hand, opinions are subjective and based on feelings. For instance, I like my bike and I think it is a good bike. That is a statement about how I feel about my bike. If I were to define what a good bike is, we are now moving into facts. The factual evidence may include the weight, tires and overall sturdiness of my bike.

the ‘fact’ column, since whether God created the earth is an objective matter – whether that · happened or not is independent of whether we believe it happened. The same is true for ‘God · exists’ – not an opinion, on this schema, but a factual claim (maybe true, maybe false).

Master List of Logical Fallacies · Fallacies are fake or deceptive arguments, "junk cognition," that is, arguments that seem irrefutable but prove nothing. Fallacies often seem superficially sound and they far too often retain immense persuasive power even after being clearly exposed as false.

Instead, debaters have to bring together various facts, insights, and values that others share or can be persuaded to accept, and then show that those ideas lead more or less plausibly to a conclusion. Logic is a useful tool in this process, but it is not the only tool -- after all, "plausibility" is a fairly subjective matter that does not follow strict logical rules. Ultimately, the judge in a debate round has to decide which side's position is more plausible in light of the arguments given -- and the judge is required to pick one of those sides, even if logic alone dictates that "we do not know" is the answer to the question at hand.

Having spent several decades advocating for same-sex marriage—including participating in dozens of campus debates and two point-counterpoint books—I’m convinced of the value of engagement with “the other side.” At the same time, I’m acutely aware of its costs. All things considered, I believe that the marketplace of ideas should err on the side of a big tent. The contemporary philosopher Jeremy Fantl is among those concerned about the big tent’s costs. In his book The Limitations of the Open Mind, Fantl notes that some arguments are cleverly deceptive, and engaging with them open-mindedly can actually undermine knowledge.

YouTube remains the most popular, but adults are increasingly using Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and Reddit. Use of some platforms varies by age, gender, and race and ethnicity.

Many Americans use social media for news: About a fifth or more regularly get news on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Our in-depth market data report on Media Usage. Explore verified statistics and the latest research.