When does opinion qualify as news?
At university in the early 1970s, I was taught that all news reporting is also opinion. However, since then two things have exacerbated this. First, there is no longer a clear division between editorialising and news reporting. Second, opinion can now be based on fake news.
Nicholas Houghton, Folkestone, UK
• Only when it’s based on fact, not bluster.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• All too often.
Rick Bzowy, Swansea, Tasmania, Australia
• Often, in the absence of facts.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
• When it’s from a self-opinionated celebrity.
Rhys Winterburn, Perth, Western Australia
• When it runs counter to that previously uttered.
Charlie Bamforth, Davis, California, US
• Clearly history tells us that it depends on the political, economic and military power of the opinion’s perpetrator.
John Benseman, Auckland, New Zealand
• When most of my colleagues start to take my opinions seriously, that’s news.
John Geffroy, Las Vegas, New Mexico, US
Eternal youth, plus a cane
What most useful skill could be acquired and serve well when carried into old age?
Touch typing. I learned that skill in high school, and now, well into old age, I find it as useful as ever, inter alia, for writing to the Guardian.
Bruce Inksetter, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
• Learning one or two foreign languages will keep brain cells ticking, and is also helpful for travel.
E Slack, L’Isle Jourdain, France
• Divining the secret of eternal youth.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• Knowing when to shut up.
Lillian Henning, Nantucket, Massachusetts, US
• Learning to be comfortable using a cane.
Mike Kelly, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
• Playing a musical instrument.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• Schmoozing.
RM Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
• The flexibility to get down to eye-to-eye level with a small child.
David Bishop, Stirling, South Australia
• The three-card trick.
Marilyn Hamilton, Perth, Western Australia
• Denial.
Margaret Wyeth, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• Putting the car keys back in their proper place every time.
Joan Dawson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• The ability to think young.
David Price, Macmasters Beach, NSW, Australia
She’s gone to see the others
The kindest act you’ve ever done?
Instructing my vet to send my terminally ill Irish terrier Daisy to join my earlier terriers, who were waiting for her.
Reiner Jaakson, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
• For myself and others, trying to act normal.
Paul Broady, Christchurch, New Zealand
Any answers?
Doesn’t much feel like the Age of Aquarius, so what shall we call it?
Donna Samoyloff, Toronto, Canada
Is it time to rethink our definition of intelligence?
John Boyle, Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia
Send answers and more questions to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com
