Can feelings be wrong?

Tarantio

I'll spare you the details of the argument that brought this up, but I do want to get some further opinions on it.

My assessment is that, as a person's feelings can be based on spurious or poorly reasoned information, those feelings can then be unjustified or incorrect.

The opposing position is that feelings cannot be called incorrect.

This might be better suited in debate and discourse, but I was hoping to get a fresh perspective on the problem before going back to arguing over it. I get the feeling that I'm missing something important.

Captain Vash

I would say both statements are correct.
Feelings, by their nature, are not facts, and therefore are not "right" or "wrong".

Doesn't mean they can't be based on bad information, and certainly doesn't mean that they're never premature, unjustified, or even just plain silly.

Javen

Feelings are emotional responses and thus by their very nature, irrational.

You can't really call feelings 'correct' or 'incorrect' without using hindsight, however. Actually; could you elaborate on what you mean by 'correct?'

Jurg

In the example that you provided, the problem is the information, not the feelings.

Feelings can only be "wrong" in the sense that they are not accepted by whatever group.

A feeling can lead to incorrect assertions. For example, you may feel unsafe when you are in no danger whatsoever, and while the assertions are incorrect, validity is not a variable of feelings. They are "there" or "not there."

I hope that makes sense.

Hahnsoo1

Is this actually important? Or is this simply for academic purposes? Because it sounds to me like the kind of "argument" people make when they are high or young (or both). Not that being sober or older gives you any more insight on the matter, of course.

It also depends on what kind of definition you are using for your terms. Right and Wrong, Correct and Incorrect, these are pairings of words that seem inaccurate for describing "feelings" (which may be emotions or may be instinct or may be subconsciousness, depending on how you define "feelings"). There are also different contexts to consider.

I'd focus less on whether or not feelings can be right or wrong or correct or incorrect, as this will lead to trite sayings like "Even a broken clock is right twice a day" or something silly like that. I'd focus on the WHY? rather than the HOW? Because that leads to the more important questions.

And to Godwin this thread right off the bat, I'll post "Can Hitler Love?" as my academic, meaningless example. *grin*

Sentry

god yes feelings can be wrong.

Isn't that the definition of pedophelia? Necrophelia? Hell, almost any phelia?

Smug Duckling

Need to make the distinction between factually wrong and morally wrong here.

Tarantio

Ok, some specific background, since it was requested:

Girlfriend wasn't invited to join an sketch comedy group in our school, actually went to the first meeting but was not invited to come back. The group was started by one person in particular, specified it was not open to further members beyond the 7 people invited, as it was just starting out. All of the people involved are friends, to a greater or lesser degree, but everyone in the group had been in a mainstage theater performance with the originator of the group, while my girlfriend has not.

She felt snubbed, while I felt that they were keeping with rules set out before she got involved, and had no issue with a private group deciding who would be involved in a fun little side project. She said that I couldn't tell her whether it was right, because that's how she felt, and that started that little side argument.

It wasn't anything especially important, and we are fairly young (21 and 22).

This has all been dealt with now, with a little help from wording from the thread, and a little compromise on the relevant issue.

So, thanks.

Jurg

Glad it worked out for you. An argument about something like this seems like a shitstorm waiting to happen.

real_pochacco

Emotions can't be wrong, because they are just internally perceived experiences. The questions of right/wrong only come in when you act on the feelings.

It's always ok to be upset. Where you go from that point, however...

Bendery It Like Beckham

pochacco hit is square in the head.

Feelings can never be wrong because they are the reality of the one who feels them. In the end, you may not see the spider on the wall they are so terrified of, but they see it, and it's very real.