Public opinion is a set of many individual opinions (assessments) on a specific issue affecting a group of people who have come to some kind of agreement. Public opinion is expressed in the attitude of people to events and facts, to the activities of various groups and individuals.
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What is «public opinion»? Opinion in some group (among classmates, bully friends in the yard, in the family, among neighbors …)? Often in different «societies» (that is, such, here, groups), the corresponding «public opinions» can be directly opposite. Which one is «respect»?
Yes, public opinion usually has to be taken into account. But often not out of «respect», but from the undesirability of the consequences that may arise if you go contrary.