Being a man of culture, you are the expert in something, I'm certain! But alas, no man is the expert in everything! Knowing when your opinion is needed and when to keep quiet is the height of decorum.



The trick is this: You hold a limited amount of cards, and you must play them judiciously. It's no good throwing them all on the table at once. Gamblers and fools may be one and the same, but the man who holds on to his cards is neither.

From one gent to another, your hand should never contain an opinion that seeks to silence, or to blame another for your misfortune. Those cards should not be held, aired, or seconded. If you, sir, are of the opinion that women, LGBT people, people of colour, or other minorities are the problem, it is likely you who are in fact the problem!

And while we're here: Being adversarial is not an opinion, it's the opposite of one! Taking a position for opposite's sake is the fastest way to out yourself as tiresome and a bore.

Devil's Advocate is a motion picture starring Keanu Reeves. Best to leave it that way.

So don't tweet that reply. Don't leave that comment. Don't start a sentence with "but" or "well, actually". Don't say the obvious joke. Don't try to score points! (I don't know much about sportsball, but scoring one goal against a team that have scored many doesn't make you the winner!)

Not voicing an opinion is the right answer more often than not, especially in matters that don't concern you, e.g. women's bodies, LGBT bodies, black and brown bodies.

When in doubt, seek an opinion out! Look to people in other communities for their ideas, and don't debate. Life is not an after-school club, chaps.