Opinions

I have been thinking some lately about opinions and my friends. I have a few friends who voice really strong opinions about things that really don't change the world. Things like "I won't visit the Cupcake place b/c they are copying the Happy Crepe place." And then get all loud about it. I know they are not all THAT serious but they present themselves like its a black and white issue. Honestly, can't we enjoy both cupcakes and crepes. Or they say, "I hate American Idol and always have b/c of the name." Now I guess they have a right to not like something, but "Hate" - is that really neccessary? I think I take peoples words too seriously. I also find myself agreeing and going along with the strong opinions of my good friends. "Tom Waits is awesome." Now I have learned to appreciate him but for a while I just liked him b/c someone else liked him. I really hadn't formed my own opinion. I just accepted theirs. And when they start going off about something, whether I agree or not, I just sit quietly by and smile. I think alot of the time I don't really have a strong opinion one way or another so I just go with whatever they want. But on other things I do really have an opinion. Those usually get shared in one way or another, even if its passively. And my stronger opinions rarely get shared in a large group. One-on-one, sure, if you ask me I'll tell you what I think. I guess in a group I feel my opinion might not be fully heard and then could either be discounted, misunderstood, misinterpreted, made fun of, not taken seriously, or any other not so cool result. I put a lot of thoughts into my thoughts so I feel the need to be heard when I express them. That's all I have to say about that.