What would you say to someone who thinks he/she is right all the time so that person re-evaluates his/her opinion?
Understanding ourselves and the world we live in.
What would you say to someone who thinks he/she is right all the time so that person re-evaluates his/her opinion?
Oof, tough one, because I’m not right all the time. If I know that I’m right, id have to pull all the information and show them.
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I think you answered this one perfectly.
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The toughest thing here is that sometimes you know you’re right and you have presented all the facts and that person still doesn’t believe you. It’s a huge trigger for me which I try to control…
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I’d say “What if I told you that you are wrong?” Once I mention that, he/she will start to accumulate facts in order to prove his/her point. And hence they will automatically re-evaluate what they said.
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Interesting strategy! Based on your experience, does it always work? And how people react to these words?
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I have such around me and it’s very hard to make the re-evaluate anything. He argues and argues until you back down. Nothing works. And sometimes I feel he knows what he’s not right but due to pride ( accepting he’s wrong) he keeps insisting. But I guess if he will ever re-evaluate because
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……But I guess if he’ll ever re-evaluate, it will be in the secrecy of his heart and never to openly whatsoever accept he’s wrong. I’m saying this out of experience.(Sorry for posting without conclusion.it happens when I’m using my phone to comment)
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No worries, Florence 🙂
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I’m sure he knows, but his ego is too big and he doesn’t want to acknowledge that he’s wrong, especially to himself. He probably tries to prove himself that he is right first of all.
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Exactly DM. You got the gist.
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Nothing…. I wouldn’t waste my time
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What if it’s necessary?
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I don’t know why it would be necessary. I think people who think they are always right lack the insight to self evaluate and I would instead detach or accept that is who they are.
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I’d say “I understand and hear what you are saying and would like the opportunity to speak my mind (or opinion) on the matter now.”
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I think this is a great strategy because this doesn’t feel like attacking that opinion. Instead, it feels like asking for a moment to say what you have to say. Nice one! 😀
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It has been my experience that this approach has a better outcome, especially in the business world. Laying something else out on the table for consideration does not challenge the other person’s ego. I’m faced with this scenario frequently. You win some and you lose some, and that’s okay. Right and wrong can often be entirely about perception too. Oftentimes, in business, there are facts supporting multiple ideas.
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I tend to think I’m right most of the time, but whenever I need to keep myself grounded I just say “Humble yourself, you fool.” Seems to work for me most of the time.
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How do you know when you need to keep yourself grounded?
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A standard symptom for me is not thinking before I speak. A comment or two may slip out then I realize I’m doing it again.
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Currently dealing with a coworker who has been not necessarily telling everyone that s/he is right all the time, but that they’re wrong. S/he has a serious problem with talking down to people which doesn’t help at all. A few people came together and collectively put an HR complaint in. The sad thing is that s/he is a hard worker. Just with a really bad attitude.
I personally try to avoid this person.
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Maybe the fact that s/he is a hard worker gives him/her the arrogance to put others down. I would personally try to use that person’s own experience as a way to start the communication and I’ll try to use questions to make him/her realize that s/he is wrong. After all, s/he has the experience, right?
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I’ve learned from personal experience, that there’s not really a way to tell them that. If they truly believe that, you will be wrong no matter how you approach it. And many people like this will find it a way to make it someone else’s fault that they are wrong.
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These people usually have huge ego so the best shot would be using that as an advantage. There is probably no other way.
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I don’t think you can say anything to someone like that that will change their mind
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What it it’s related to a crucial business or family decision?
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You really can’t do or say anything. When you do you’re feeding their ego, now you’re their new target.
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Unfortunately yes. These people tend to be very vengeful.
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Like most other commenters, I wouldn’t bother. I tend to keep conversations with people like that brief. There are some things I’m pretty set in my ways about too though, so I just try to move past it if it happens.
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If it isn’t required to counter that opinion, it would be better to let it go because it is not worth the effort.
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“Are you sure, a 100% sure (of what you’re saying)?” I’ve noticed if/when you ask that simple but tricky question they start to waver 🙂 How can one be totally sure of something? That question will instill a sense of doubt, and people who want to be always right won’t like it… Just try it and see for yourself what happens 😀
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This is interesting. I’ll definitely try it. Thank you for the tip! 😀
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“He cannot begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.” – Epictetus
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Wise words!
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I will tell the person to recheck his/her attitude and that a person cannot be right all the time. And that’s it. Rest I would’nt bother and definitely ignore such toxic people for my own mental peace.
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Yeah… it would be better to ignore such people. The sad part is that they need the most to realize that they can’t be right all the time.
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I’ve found (over the years) that delivering news such as this is best received if given by someone they admire or respect.
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Yes, awesome point! This would definitely make them question their opinion.
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Nothing. He/she knows everything and always right. Why do I have to waste my energy? He/she won’t believe anyway. 😂😂😂
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Most likely he/she wouldn’t believe it 🙂
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Perhaps offer him/her this quote by Plate
“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.”
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Plato instead Plate above
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Awesome quote! I definitely need to try this one so I can see the reactions. Have you ever used it?
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Anyone who is like this prolly isn’t worth talking to anyways but I guess it would potentially be a fun debate but I’d most likely get bored with them lol
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If you can keep your emotions away from it, yes, it would be fun indeed 😀
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I’d look in the mirror and say, “Today’s not your day to be right.” ; ) Rebecca
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I hope the person in the mirror doesn’t argue back 😀
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That is a question of interpretation. I do not have a Hogwart’s mirror, but I can support two sides of an argument (or more) in my head. That’s good for writing dialogue. -Rebecca
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I’d usually just ignore a know-it-all type of person. But sometimes, there are days where they actually talk to me directly that I just sit there and listen and wait for them to finish then I can say thanks and if they need help, they can always come and ask. Shuts them up and avoid me as much as they could. 😉
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Interesting! Do they ever get mad because you only sit there and listen?
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Well, yeah. They’re like, “Are you listening?” Or “Do you even understand what I’m saying?” Stuff like that. I’d just nod or something. It’s funny seeing them look so annoyed at me. 😉
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These genre of people will never reconsider their decision if you tell them directly that they are wrong. They will reconsider their evaluation until they themselves realise it. So for that matter, I would indulge in a discussion with that person and will try to challenge his/her evaluation(though indirectly) by showing him/her the other side of the same situation. And then I will leave this decision to him/her .
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From your experience, do they accept the fact that another side of the same situation exists?
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Do you remember one time when you made a mistake in the test? Was it in high school? College? Well guess what, that’s proof that you are never right all the time. No one is, so it’s always better to have an open mind about things, and also consider that we may be wrong.
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Using past mistakes as proof they can be wrong. Awesome strategy! 😀
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I’ve tried many things, so far without luck. If someone believes they are always right it’s almost impossible to prove them wrong. Even if they see that they are, they will not admit it because pride and other things get in the way.
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Yes, exactly! And because of those things that get in the way, they are not even willing to listen other opinions.
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try to give perspective, it’s hard when someone is stubborn but if your persistent it shows that ur not just wasting energy for nothing but to prove something
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True, but that person can take the persistence as a personal attack…
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Here’s a tip, I believe everyone thinks that they are right at the time we make a decision. And that’s fine by me to think it, but it is when we “know” it then the problems start. Commonly called dogma or being dogmatic is a real pain to me and seems like we all suffer form it to a lesser or greater degree.
When I encounter it I usually challenge their certainty but try not to be so certain when I do it.
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How do you challenge their certainty?
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I would tell them to look further into the issue from different perspectives so they realize it’s not all black-and-white and there are other people who know more about it than them.
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True! The sad part is that sometimes they’re not willing to look further into the issue…
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Ask them if they have ever considered an idea other than their own, walk in the other person’s shoes
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Great way to put things! Have you tried it? How effective was it?
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I have a few of those in my life. I used to get annoyed because they would try to impress their opinion on me and would try to prove my opinion was wrong. Over time, I learned to say ‘I respect your opinion but disagree’. If I cannot say that, then I just excuse myself and get a drink of H2O.
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How do people react to that replica?
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I do not stop to watch 🙂
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