I’m busy compiling a list of my top 20 Greg Dulli songs. You probably have no idea who Greg Dulli is, and as I’m not intending to publish the list, you’re never going to hear my opinion on the matter.

And that’s probably for the best, as it’s a near certainty that my opinion is wrong.

Longstanding sufferers of my acquaintance may be permitted a wry smile at this juncture. There have been many heated discussions over the years relating to my contention that opinions can be wrong.

I’m a big fan of the John Maynard Keynes quote (or was it Paul Samuelson?), “When the facts change, I change my mind.” Clearly, there are no objective facts regarding the relative merits of an obscure alt-rock artist’s oeuvre. But a similar logic applies. For what is my opinion today may not be my opinion in the future.

What might change my opinion? Personal circumstances, ageing, cognitive deterioration, political polarisation, climate change… Everything about our lives changes all the time, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. There’s no reason why our opinions shouldn’t evolve along similar lines, except for the challenge that, once we form a negative view of something – a film we didn’t enjoy (Titanic), or an experience we despised (ice skating) – we’re much less likely to revisit it.

No surprise then, when we do revisit things, we’re often surprised by the extent to which our opinion has shifted. From time to time, my brother resurfaces old feedback I’ve provided to our fortnightly music club. It’s hilarious how frequently my past and present selves disagree with one another.

But then, who’s to say that I was wrong then and I’m right now? There’s an album by Michael Hurley (unlike Dulli, even I have no idea who he is) that I have gone from hating one year to loving the next, before returning to hatred on subsequent listens. These days I’m reluctant to put it on for fear that doublethink could cause my head to explode.

This is why it’s a good idea to revisit one’s opinions on a regular basis, and check whether they still stand. It’s entirely possible that what you thought back then was simply an instant reaction based on your mood or general outlook in the moment. In fact, it’s possible that none of us have any real opinions about anything at all. In which case there’s probably not much point finishing my list.

Photo by Bannon Morrissy on Unsplash