[noch]

> but if you feel that the mere opinions of the plebs are inconsequential^ and hence pointless, why participate in a public forum at all?

That gets to the heart of the matter, actually. Personally I participate in order to get new information and learn new ideas. But yeah, being human and flawed, I do end up giving opinions and I notice most people just want to talk about opinions.

But I digress. My question was specifically about the value of saying "I don't trust OpenAI".

[h0l0cube]

Perhaps it was a warning to the naive that might take the article at face value to perhaps reconsider? What is obvious to you, might not be to another. I'd say there are a sizable amount of viewers of this forum are either on the fence or view OpenAI favorably.

And also back to part two of what I said, there's network effects to grumbling. I'd also add, there's a chilling effect to apathy.

[NewJazz]

Opinions are information?

[noch]

> Opinions are information?

Not really. That's why there's a saying, "Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one."

Information has to correspond to reality, the only arbiter of truth. When I give you my opinion I can say pretty much anything, usually they correspond to feelings e.g. "I think if you ask her out she'll say yes. I think this because you're my friend and I like you so surely she will."

But I think you already know that opinions are not information and perhaps you're asking rhetorically and hopefully not trolling me?

[h0l0cube]

They are, at minimum, information about a particular persons values and perspective. Collectively, those individual opinions are what shape elections and foment uprisings.

[noch]

> They are, at minimum, information about a particular persons values and perspective. Collectively, those individual opinions are what shape elections and foment uprisings.

Ah. The good old communist dream: The masses are where the truth is. Just one more marginal voice and we will know of the glorious uprising that was foretold.

But of course one would say this, after all, this is the age of the influencer and the knee jerk reaction to any information is to turn to the nearest one and say "thoughts?"

Anyway, it doesn't matter. If you believe opinions are information, more power to you.

[h0l0cube]

> truth

We were talking information, not truth. The same kind of information that polling companies try to extract—mostly unsuccessfully—every election cycle.

> If you believe opinions are information, more power to you.

See above, but thanks.