Was talking with one of my friends and we were on the subject of "People's opinion affecting how we do things". How much does a persons opinion affect what you do? Do people's opinions matter? It's funny how you hear a lot of people say "Well, who cares what they think" but often find that it affects them in an indirect way, where they start to think differently. I will give you a scenario:

"You went shopping one day, and bought a pair of pants, you absolutely love them, adore them, but when you wear them one day to go out, you notice you're getting a lot of weird stares, strange comments, you're wondering what exactly it is that they're whispering about, only to realize that it's your pants".

Question: Would this affect you in any way? Would you ever wear those pants out, knowing that people are staring at you strangely? How much of a persons opinion actually affects you?

Some people's opinions regarding some things do matter to me but if I really liked those pants, I'm wearing them. Tony, are the pants really some hypothetical situation? Maybe the people just noticed you forgot to zip your fly again.

Sometimes opinions matter and sometimes they don't. All depends on what we're talking about, and also the level of trust I have in the opinion giver.

Alan Smithee wrote:

...Tony, are the pants really some hypothetical situation? Maybe the people just noticed you forgot to zip your fly again.

Or there is a significantly protruding 'basket' in those pants.

I am a few decades out of style (but I live on Miami Beach so 'laid back' is acceptable). But wearing cutoff denim shorts all the time is my look. Now and then I will see someone else wearing them so I know how out of the norm they are because I notice it. Still, there is no reason to change what I find comfortable because everyone else might notice how retro I am.

But, I have reached the age where I can wear socks with sandals if I wanted and no one would give me a second glance.

I'm interested in their opinions but mine aren't swayed by them.

Shale wrote:

Or there is a significantly protruding 'basket' in those pants.

I took that for granted.

Depends on who is giving their opinion, but generally, no.

As far as the pants go, it depends on why they're staring at me strangely. Do they make my ass look like Nicki Minaj's? Because if so, I'm buying another pair.

But if it's because I'm making a spectacle of myself in a not-so-good way, the negative attention could cause me to reevaluate my choice, and maybe ask for a trusted opinion. Maybe I could wear them a different way that's more flattering.

In general, I only care about opinions from people I look up to. And even then I'm prone to still doing it my way.

Forgiveness Man wrote:

Sometimes opinions matter and sometimes they don't. All depends on what we're talking about, and also the level of trust I have in the opinion giver.

Alan Smithee wrote:

Some people's opinions regarding some things do matter to me but if I really liked those pants, I'm wearing them. Tony, are the pants really some hypothetical situation? Maybe the people just noticed you forgot to zip your fly again.

LOL It was a hypothetical situation.

Tony Marino wrote:

LOL It was a hypothetical situation.

That's my nephew's story and he's sticking to it .

I think it depends on the motivation behind said look. If someone is trying to keep up with the latest styles, trends and what's hot, then other peoples opinions and reactions can be useful. If, however, it's all about someone's personal comfort and what they think looks good by their own measure, then other peoples reactions become less significant.