The Good, The Bad and The Opinion

       

   What makes something good or bad? I witnessed a discussion today about whether or not the White Stripes are a good band. Now, when asked my opinion I truly did not know what to say. Who am I to judge whether or not they are any good. I have no musical background nor am I an expert in the field. I am a listener, and can only comment on my opinion of them. My response was that I’m not a huge fan. That does not mean they are a bad band. They have sold albums internationally, gone on tour, been on TV, and so on. Yet the question still remains, what qualifies them as a good or bad band. This can apply to anything, not just music. It can apply to movies, books, art, theories, ideas, food, etc. People may recommend things by saying they are good. But what makes them good? Is it notoriety? Is it quantity or perhaps quality? Is a movie good based on its box office sales? How many copies does a book have to sell in order for it to be good? To call something good or bad implies an objective judgment. I believe that phrase is an oxymoron though. If something is a judgment, it is simply an opinion; and opinions are subjective. There is no such thing as objectivity in life. A person has thoughts based on their experiences and any opinion is simply a thought. That is why there are so many conflicting opinions about the “great” things in this world.

 For example, The Beatles are considered one of the greatest music groups of all time. (I know, I went back to music; stay with me though.) What makes The Beatles so great? Is it their record sales, fan base, or revolutionary music? Are they great because they started a shift in what was popular? Perhaps all of these things made them great, but what are they to people who don’t like their music? I have tried and tried to listen to and like The Beatles because they are considered “great”. I, however, cannot enjoy them. And I know for a fact that there are more people that don’t like them than just myself. Does that mean they are bad? History says otherwise. But is that because the majority loves them? Are The Beatles a good band because more people love them than hate them? (If that is in fact a true statement. Personally, I have no idea.) I think as a society we categorize things as good or bad entirely too often. There is no true way to know if they are or not. Even if you were to gather experts in all the fields to determine whether things are good or bad, but who is to say that the layperson doesn't know as well as the expert? I think the world is full of opinions. So next time a person asks you if something is good or bad, don’t get mad if they disagree. Everybody has a right to their own opinion.