Never Apologize For Having An Opinion — Especially When You’re Right (opens in new tab)

I prefer blondes to brunettes -- that's my opinion.

I prefer chocolate ice cream to strawberry ice cream -- that's my opinion.

You're saying "opinion" when you should be saying "theory" or "hypothesis," both proposals about the true content of reality. An opinion isn't a proposal about reality, it's an expression of personal preference.

> I think I basically consider an opinion to be legitimate if it's plausible-or-better.

But that's not an opinion, that's an observation that may or may not have a connection with objective reality. Opinions by definition are not "legitimate" except in the sense that everyone is entitled to his own. By design, they have nothing to do with reality-testing -- that's reserved to hypotheses, proposals about the content of reality.

Of course it is. By definition, opinions aren't statements about objective reality, they're expressions of personal taste and subjective experience.

The only sense in which an opinion is "legitimate" is the idea that everyone is entitled to his own, never that an opinion might correspond to reality. The latter isn't an opinion, it's a hypothesis.

So if there are third parties present, the best strategy is not to apologize unless you are fairly certain it will be viewed as sincere. In the absence of a 3rd party, apology is the winning strategy regardless of sincerity.

I found it interesting that the recipient of the apology is made to feel better not because the wrongdoer cares enough to apologize but because it is an opportunity to be seen by others and affirm one's self-image as magnanimous and gracious by accepting. We are such odd creatures.

The best course of action is to express regret without accepting responsibility unless you actually believe you were at fault.

[0] http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/92/3/418/