I am thinking about the words "opinionated" and "judgmental". Why are having an opinion or showing judgment made out to be bad things? Most people have no opinions, at least informed ones, and most people have no judgment, at least well-deliberated ones. So, instead of encouraging people to form opinions, to make critical evaluations, to cultivate themselves in a way in interaction with the world of ideas, why do we pull down those who show strong opinions or express strong judgments? Granted that just having an opinion or a judgment does not make it a right or a wise one but I would say these sort of people have at least made an effort to engage their mind in some way, they at least show an interest in committing to a point of view, they at least care in the broad sense of the term to know themselves or the world through themselves? I have sympathy for this type but the other type... that sits on the fence calmly while the world drifts by tilting neither this way nor that...they get my goat. No, actually, they don't get my anything ;)