You didn't need opinions back in the day

Colm O’Regan writes about the struggles of forming an opinion in the 21st century. 

It must have been easier years ago. You didn’t need them. Opinions. You worked down the mine or planted spuds on the farm. If you had an opinion about inhaling carcinogenic dust or eating black bread for lunch or being only 7, you kept it to yourself. If you thought that there was an over dependence on one crop you didn’t mention it to your father or both of ye would be done for attacking the other with a sickle or a slean or bill hook or some other gruesome agricultural implement that is now only found at antiques fairs or the odd funeral in the midlands.

Your father, the king, the top-hatted monocled boss or the priest told you what to think.