There is a thin line between being opinionated and being a know-it-all. Unfortunately, many people cross that line and alienate others with their strong opinions. While it is important to have convictions and stand up for what you believe in, it is also essential to respect other people's views. This blog post will explore how to give your opinion while avoiding improper delivery methods properly. In addition, we will provide you with some tips on navigating through life without offending everyone you meet.

Opinionated people are everywhere.

We all have our opinions about various things. However, nowadays, it's easier to speak your mind with the way social media and the Internet have conditioned most of us to give our say on things. For example, articles and YouTube videos have their comments section, and social media posts allow a person to comment on them. As a result, we have reached the point where it almost feels like instinct to say something about a post or article, even if it's just leaving a heart or "like" sign indicating your reaction.

Nothing is wrong with giving your opinion about things. There are various upsides to giving your opinion, such as:

• People can get a different perspective about something, which can shake up rigid beliefs and the views of closed-minded people
• People can get to know you better when they become aware of your opinion on things, giving them insight into who you are and what you believe in
• What you say can provide an alternate solution to problems
• Your opinion can help correct something wrong when most people focus on the wrong side of a topic or issue, and they aren't aware of it, but you know it.
• Giving your opinion can help you practice critical thinking so that you don't just blindly follow what a group of people thinks.

When does becoming opinionated go wrong?

If giving your opinion is okay, when does it go wrong? It's when it becomes too much or too little. For example, highly opinionated people will often give their say about things, even if others might not be asking for it. It will be almost reactionary for them to share their opinion immediately when they see an article or post, especially if it's something that goes against their beliefs. These people may leave lots of their statements in comment sections, and you may find them arguing with other people. Also, these people have a terrible reputation for being opinionated due to how aggressive their approach can be when delivering their opinions. You may also find them posting long articles about their views, so they look like a know-it-all to most people.

Then there's the other side: giving too little of your opinion. It's just as worse as being too opinionated. Why? You might have a fantastic idea, but since you are afraid that other people will criticize you or strike you down when you speak up, you decide to withhold your opinion. It's understandable why some people choose to do this, considering how nasty people can be on social media and even in public. However, it's still vital that we give our say on things if it calls for it, and there is something important in what you have to say. Learning to speak up can be challenging, but it's an essential skill to master when handling real-life conversations and social media.

Giving your opinion while not looking like a know-it-all

It's vital to strike a balance when it comes to being opinionated. We shouldn't be too forceful and not too timid when giving our opinions. There are proper ways to do it, and here are some suggestions.

• Avoid using harsh words and expletives. They give a solid aura to your opinions and can trigger other people and make you look obnoxious and angry to some of them. Unless you are looking for a fight, never use words like "suck" or "hate." Not everybody has a high limit for tolerance and patience.
• Try to be mindful of the situation and see if it's okay to give your opinion. When the case is too tense, such as when people are already arguing, it might be better to step back and wait until people calm down before saying something.
• Be more sensitive to other people's moods before saying something. For example, if you notice somebody is feeling down, don't say anything that can further rub salt into the wound. Instead, look at people's body language and the tone of voice and get a hint if it's okay to give an opinion about something.
• Avoid posting overly long statements in social media posts to the point that it makes you look like you're entering an essay writing competition. Lengthy comments can help clarify your point, provided they are well-researched and you have your facts straight. However, doing a long rant will most likely irritate people. Unless the situation calls for it, avoid lengthy commentaries as you will look like a know-it-all to some people.
• Think before you speak or post on social media. Nowadays, it's an impulse for most people to immediately say what's in their minds without thinking about the repercussions. Also, what you post on the Internet cannot be quickly deleted as some people might save what you posted before and can harm your reputation if you posted something offensive and others use it against you. So use your mind before your mouth.
• Research carefully if what you are about to say is true based on facts. As easy as it is to give fake news and unfounded opinions, it's also easy to gather information to back up what you say.
• Being opinionated can get you into arguments. Don't resort to personal attacks and insults unrelated to disagreements between people. Listen to other people's opinions, and you give yours while maintaining respect for each other. Some people are too aggressive and would like to rub in your face their opinion. If such things happen, hear what they say, don't fan the flames anymore, and leave the conversation if you can.
• The next time you want to say something from your head, ask yourself: Is anybody asking for my opinion? Of course, this question acts as a limiter, so you won't keep on giving your opinion on almost everything. However, for situations where many people are in the wrong and nobody is speaking up for the truth, it won't hurt to speak up if you can.

Your opinions matter.

Opinions are essential in that they give insight to other people on what you think about something. They also act as feedback, such as for companies or organizations to want to know if their products or services are okay in people's eyes. Without knowing the opinion of somebody, we won't know if what we have said or done was acceptable for them or not. Striking a balance is critical: don't be too quiet and don't be too aggressive when giving opinions. Deliver your opinion correctly to get your message across without looking too arrogant or argumentative.