What's harder to deal with - partners or friends who have too many opinions, or too few?

Question

We all know what someone with lots of opinions looks like. It can be difficult to absorb sometimes, but I guess when it tips into being very annoying is when they are stubborn, disrespectful, or always think theirs are right and others' are wrong. Some speak before they think, and figure it out later that they may need to recalibrate or refine their conclusions; but it's the ones that have no flexibility in their thinking that can be problematic.

Then the other type is a person who seems so noncommittal, it's difficult to know what they truly think about anything. Maybe they don't want to offend; maybe they truly don't have an opinion, but you often wonder where they really stand, or what might be revealed later, because they seem so vague and noncommittal.

I'm just curious which people find is the more difficult situation/person.

Please expand on why.

Whats harder to deal with - partners or friends who have too many opinions, or too few?

These two are brother and sister models. Its not sexual, but I like their playfulness. — These two are brother and sister models. It's not sexual, but I like their playfulness.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

OMG, those are both annoying.

The non-commital people you described may simply have introvert personalities and refrain from speaking until they have something important to say. But some of them merely avoid controversy. Their silence makes you wonder what they really think. I've known people like that who I thought were close friends, only to learn at some point that they weren't who I thought they were. They had a dark side. People like that can be fun, always agreeable, but you can't trust someone if you don't know where their head is at.

And then there are the opinionated ones you mentioned.
I love a discussion and even welcome differences of opinion. But I have little patience for people who are stubborn, disrespectful, closed minded, and think they already know everything.

I sometimes fall into the category of speaking before I think and figuring out later that I had been being stubborn and that the other person made some good points. It sometimes takes me a while to process. But I am very retrospective and introspective.
I AM capable of revising or even changing my opinions as I gain more information.
I'll go back to that person and tell them what I realized. And I'll apologize if I had said something that sounded disrespectful.
Believe me, some stupid shit has come out of my mouth before. 😂🥴 But I catch it and am not stubborn about admitting.

NathanDavis · Accepted Answer

interesting... I just never made them my friends, surely not my partners

I do have friends with plenty of opinions about many things, and I lover her because of that but she's not stubborn about it, nor disrespectful... personally, I've never felt like someone is a lot to take, lol, I can absorb a lot, we had plenty of after school café days in which one discussion would shift onto another and then another one, and those four, to six to eight hours were a delight, to me more than to her (I was usually the one to challenge her thought and her mind and make it about perspective, and she hated to love me for it)

those who shout their brains out, this is... speaking without thinking, and those of rigid reasoning tend not to like me as I would be prompt to point it out and make them see that, very rarely they see that as something from someone they would want to be friends with, lol

as for the other type, that won't commit or don't have the need to reveal other than whatever you perceive as their outer layer, I know how to poke, I know how to sneak in, I know how to see through and get into their comfort zone but when all these things I know how to try won't work, then I just leave them alone, and let them be, because they just really don't want the trouble and I can very much be "trouble" of thought and opinion, we never end up as friends... lol

19magic · Accepted Answer

For me it's definitely too many, I'm probably more of the latter there's load of things out there I generally don't know about or have an opinion on so why talk about the topic. From the poeple I've known I've been told that I'm super boring and my opinions don't mean shit so I've withdrawn into myself around most people. Eg: they used to say their nan doesn't use the internet, does the same thing day in day out, go to the shop just to find people to talk to. But she makes a story of it and it's hilarious, she'll gossip about others and have lots to say. Whereas you we'd ask where you've been and you'll be like studying at the library, there's no story or anything.

My own nan is of the personality of too many opinions and she often makes disrespectful comments and says things that hurt. And anytime I mention it she turns it around on me saying either I'm imagining things, I'm making things up, I twist her words around. Or she'll say something like hearing aids are ugly, and I said so when I wore them for 10 years I was ugly and she said oh I didn't mean it like that.

So yeah I try to keep everything to myself, most of the things I like is boring, and most of the things I have a problem with I'm told I'm making things up and just causing arguments. 🤷‍♀️ So I can't win

DarkCarousel · Accepted Answer

I can’t bring to mind any friends or family that have too few opinions. Sometimes the ones that offer up their opinion constantly or interject just to share their view can be frustrating.
I took my niece (middle school age) shopping for some school clothes and was just discussing the day later with my father. He had to have his say about how a dress code is set for a reason when I was simply telling him that it was difficult to find clothes that meet a dress code. Something small like that is just enough for me to roll my eyes.
With most of the people in my life, since they are rather opinionated and openly so, I’m just choosey about which topics I discuss with whom.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

I definitely have no taste for people with “too few” opinions. Fundamentally, nobody has no opinions, NOBODY!!! So a person who refuses to confess their thoughts and feelings on any given subject is certainly hiding something. I don’t tolerate liars and hypocrites, so i’ll accept someone with too many opinions over someone with too few every day of the week.

Blackcupcake · Answer

too few… I think that would just make me feel like they’re uninterested. also them being that quiet wouldn’t be too ideal with my hyper personality… I’d feel like I’m annoying them with my talk and hyperness… lol

but if they have too many opinions then I don’t need to listen and to agree with everything they say… we can discuss it and we can also agree to disagree, it shouldn’t be a big deal.

Andres77 · Answer

Too many!

They never shut up!

Then you have to deal with the misinformation they're putting out and the rumors they spread.

Just STFU already and get some work done... sheesh!

That's what we have to deal with often at work.

dustybiker · Answer

I think the key is to not expect. Let those you care about freely feel what they want, and share how much of their thoughts they are willing. Accept them for who they are allows you to not be stressed yourself. Sometimes I just smile and shake my head, it’s all it takes to get a smile back. Agreeing to disagree. It would be boring to live life only with those who believed everything the way I do. I like the challenge of seeing the same point through someone else's mind.

BCRanger10 · Answer

Probably too few. If they'd be sharing too much, I'd at least assume they care. Plus, I could always tell them to zip it if I'd had enough.

Granted, I'm married now and my wife knows when I appreciate feedback and when I don't.

Zolly99999 · Answer

Too many options most times makes then needy.  Too many options most times makes them narsastic.. I will deal with the needy person

lilyanony1 · Answer

Too few makes you feel judged. Too many let's you know they're judging you. What I will say is. At least you know where you stand with too few am opinion.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

Being with someone who has a lot of opinions sounds difficult until you try being with someone who doesn't express any opinions at all. Not expressing any opinions can be downright terrifying.

Surely · Answer

Either can be annoying at times.

Once worked with two guys that no one else needed to have an opinion because theirs was always the only one needed!

On the other hand. When you ask a date about where they would like to eat and say it doesn’t matter. Wherever you want to. Gets old after awhile!

Jaximus-Lion · Answer

Too few, they can't have their own opinion, even the few they have, it's not theirs to begin with. And always when i ask them about their own opinion, they always answer with (I don't know 🤷‍♂️).

_deeznuts · Answer

too many opinions. I find people with less opinions more laid back.

Smoothing · Answer

I can't decide because both a harder to deal with. One shuves there view down your throat when you don't want them, the other leaves you hanging when you are desperate for a view.

Both are hard to deal with.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Oh, I LOVE people with opinions. I have so much fun with them. 🙂🤓 The only ones who are annoying are the ones who take it too seriously.

Anpu23 · Answer

Too many by far I have a tendency to just accept people, " don't know" or "I don't care" I just take at face value.

AsaKyo · Answer

Man, I wish I still had friends

clampfan101 · Answer

It depends on their core beliefs. How much they have a strong option on, and how different they are from yours.

Becca1998_ · Answer

To many. Plus do you have that many friends some might have Acquaintances. But real friends who are ride or die.

Marshymallow · Answer

People who have too much opinions are a hassle.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Too many!

EaterPeter · Answer

Both.

What's harder to deal with - partners or friends who have too many opinions, or too few?

Superb Opinion

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said