There is a difference between fact and opinion

So today I had to give a persuasive speech. And for those who do not know or understand the point of a persuasive speech, it is a speech intended to persuade a group to believe what you believe, to follow your opinion, or to get them to do something you want them to do. So my speech was about the stigma against tobacco, the growth of "smoke-free" areas, and why I believe those are wrong. I stated clinical studies on the benefits of smoking tobacco, and well as studies showing the psychological benefits. I admitted that tobacco is not safe, but I was trying to illustrate my point that the detrimental effects of tobacco are greatly exaggerated and blown out of proportion. I stated how I believe the ability to smoke is a civil right. I talked about how since 1973 (the year the trend of banning the smoking of tobacco in public spaces became popular) the amount of cigarette trashed has increase in correlation with the increase of smoke free spaces. My arguments were, in my eyes, fairly sound, and I believe I posed a good argument.

After the speech, some pious idiot decided to state his opinion that my opinion was wrong. In his eyes his opinion was right, and apparently both my facts and opinions were wrong. Fuck him. Really though, all I did was present my opinion in a structured and organized manner, and he comes at me like a verbal spider monkey. I respect the fact that he is entitled to his opinion, as I am entitled to mine. I could have punched holes in his speech, told him that his controversial basic "right" is not a right at all, but a danger that should be regulated, used his own logic that if it has dangers, it should be regulated. Fuck him. I took the high road. I mean I am kind of being a hypocrite by writing it up here, but I feel entitled to write my petty annoyed thoughts of the day. I mean, this is my blog.