Damn Opinion Bashers!

After a long day at work and uni, many people just want to have a relaxing ride home on public transport. It’s a time to retreat from the world, soak up the events of the day and basically ‘wind down’. And I know that I am not alone in this endeavor. Peering through the seats on the bus, looking across the isle on the train, the same blank and somewhat gaunt faces stare off into the distance.

But more recently I am not looking at as many bored faces peering off into oblivion. Mainly because I cannot see the faces as clearly anymore. Instead the rustling of paper and the pictures of celebrities surround me as the commuters take in the words of mX. Catching onto this craze, I too ‘pick it up and take it home’, reading the light hearted features that fill the pages. But I especially like the ‘opinion-bashing’ pages or more formally known as ‘Have your say’. I’m sure you all know what I mean. The pages where members of the public write in with their views of the world. This is becoming a full-fledged war that ravages the pages discussing or rather, attacking the ‘minority’ groups in Brisbane.

So far the victims have been emos, overweight people, smokers, body odour, public transport and bicycle riders. And the list is growing. Now, giving your opinion is ok, and it can even be justified criticizing these groups of people. But what oversteps the line is the back and forth ‘pay-outs’ of other people’s opinions and quite frankly, most of them aren’t very nice. Most people don’t like to be put in a stereotype and be ‘bashed’. But what hurts people even more is having your personal opinions beat into the ground. Brisbane needs to lighten up a little. Yes, express your opinions, it’s a free society, but there is not need to disagree so strongly with people’s opinions were it becomes offensive.

Lauren W