Do people see the difference between an opinion about homeschool and a fact pertaining to homeschool?

Question

Please see the answer I gave to the question linked below and tell me if you understand the difference.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080403005826AAuV7Oi&r=w#RL5WAzTeGWFRoxTyTOpP

Answer 1

Many people can't tell the difference between a fact and an opinion.

It is true that many anti-homeschoolers make stupid generalizations.

But what I consider worse is the homeschoolers who won't tolerate comments like "I don't enjoy being homeschooled" or "I homeschool my older children but disagree with it for my younger children."

In response to the "What are the cons of homeschooling?" post, I posted links to peer reviewed journals that showed  and pro-homeschoolers still told me I was posting close-minded opinions when it was clearly not the case.

Answer 2

Kate says:

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In response to the "What are the cons of homeschooling?" post, I posted links to peer reviewed journals that showed and pro-homeschoolers still told me I was posting close-minded opinions when it was clearly not the case.

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The links that you provided are links to opinion articles - that is clearly the case.

The third link is to a blog and does not even point to an article about homeschooling.

The ERIC publication is specifically categorized (and I cut and pasted this) as "Journal Articles; Opinion Papers"

The very definition of the other article gives it away as an opinion piece: "Whither the Common Good? A Critique of Home Schooling."  

Zero in on the word "critique." Look it up if you need.  The article you reference is an opinion piece.

Also, just because an article is peer reviewed, does not make that article necessarily a factual, research based, evidence based article.  Opinion based articles are frequently peer reviewed as exampled by the two you reference.

So, whether intentionally or inadvertently, you present three opinion articles as fact.  You've been called on it.

I love peaches!

BTW: I understand the difference between a fact and an opinion.  

I think some times people really don't care about the facts whether they understand the difference or not.

Facts are pesky things when they contradict one's opinions!

Answer 3

teehee..."peer reviewed"? a blog entry is peer reviewed?

I don't think people ARE taught logic anymore, much less finer points like opinion versus fact. Our society wants an easy answer, in fact, they would like to have any answer fed to them as long as it agrees with their current world view. You can't help it, it's taught to us young.

Answer 4

I understand the difference between facts and opinions, though I can't speak for other people.

I think you were very clear in your response.

Obviously some people just don't get the difference between fact and opinion.  Sources don't make an opinion fact.   If my daughter tells me her opinion, it is a fact it's her opinion, but the opinion isn't necessarily fact.  

:D