How can you be completely objective without being completely neutral?

Question

I sometimes get criticised for being too objective but on the other hand I hear others who state their opinions get slammed for being biased.

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Anyway, how can you be objective without being completely neutral?

Answer 1

Stealing a hand-bag. What an example?! SUCKS!

So, I'm guessing you're being asked about something other than hand-bags, possibly with more complexity than seeing the person actually commit a crime in broad daylight.  maybe even politics or business.  When you give your data, summarize the pros and cons of both and then express your belief citing the comparative data.

Answer 2

If your opinions are based on cold hard fact then is that not being "objective"?

Example: you see somebody stealing from a handbag, you now believe that this person is a thief, this opinion would be both objective and  far from neutral.

Answer 3

Easy.  Just be honest with yourself and give only honest advice or answers.

Answer 4

I used to be undecided about this but now I am in two minds.

Answer 5

You cannot, but should you be? Every position carries with it moral overtones.

Can one be objective about the Holocaust, would you want to be neutral on the issue?

On the other hand science demands objectivity with complete neutrality. It uses statistical analysis of data to remove bias.

A viable approach might be to know what issues to be neutral and objective about and which to take a moral position on

Answer 6

To be objective is to view something with out personal bias, not to give your opinion but to state the facts.  You can state the facts and interpret the facts in such a way as to have bias.

For example, thousands of professional, educated, sane people have reported seeing UFO's... FACT.  People who report seeing UFO's are thought to be crazy or lying by many people...FACT

Professional, educated, sane people do not want to be thought of as insane as it can be detrimental to their reputationa and careers....FACT

A biased interpretation would be that all professional sane people tell the truth so therefore they are reporting genuine UFO sightings

or

All people reporting UFO sightings must be insane.