Does it bother you when people don't acknowledge at all when they have been proven wrong?...

[Locut0s]

Last edited Fri Jul 12, 2013, 04:36 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm actually thinking of my mother in this case. I love her to death but one trait she has that drives me up the wall sometimes is she can't admit when she has made a mistake or has been proven wrong. And I don't mean admit in the sense of apologizing, but the merest phrase "oh oops" or "guess I was wrong". Instead she just changes the subject mid stream. And often this is after repeated vociferous claims that the point she was making has to be right 100%. Not that we are arguing, just I have view X and she has view Y. I know other people like this and it's kind of a pet peeve of mine. Personally I always admit when I've been proven wrong in an argument or when I have remembered something wrong. I'm not apologetic and I don't expect the other party to be either just to acknowledge the fact that it happened.

Are you like this, or does it hardly bother you at all?

[BainsBane]

1. somewhat

Mostly I see it as a character flaw. There are many people like that online, and obviously in real life as well.

I also admit when I'm wrong. I'm secure enough in my intellectual ability that I know I can make mistakes (and frequently do) yet still be competent. Some people find it impossible to do that. My mother used to be more like that than she is now. She's mellowed with age. Perhaps yours will as well.

[loli phabay]

2. no, it makes no difference to how i feel if they acknowledge it or not

Just let it go, and you will be much happier.

[pipi_k]

3. Sometimes, but

not a whole lot.

IMO, the fact that they give up the argument means they've acknowledged they might be wrong.

And I'm talking about real facts here. Like if someone says the sun rises in the west but I prove it rises in the east, that's indisputable fact.

When it comes to other things, though, where it could just be a matter of perception, I can understand that people see things through their own filters, and likely neither party will be totally right or totally wrong.

[dr.strangelove]

4. First I find it rare when someone is proven wrong, but if so, then no it would not bother me at all

I think many people feel they have proven somebody wrong when they really have not. People often see different standards of proof. If it is something that can actually be limited to very small issues, like New York and California do not border each other, than okay. But often its not that simple.

but assuming it is one of those rare areas where someone can be factually wrong, then why would anyone care if they admit it or acknowledge it rather than simply take it in and move on. We are not living in a game show where you get points for being right and lose them for being wrong. Why would it matter. Does it really matter if I should have put a question mark at the end of that last sentence? Do I need to have it pointed out and then me say that I was wrong or "oops" to have any impact on whether or not I in fact should have used a question mark?

[baldguy]

5. And when they recycle the same shit that's been proven wrong again & again, as if it's fresh & new?

Welcome to DU.

[datasuspect]

7. i've never been wrong

so i can't relate.

i'm always right, even when i'm wrong.

[libodem]

8. My folks were both "right" fighters

Neither ever wanted to admit being wrong. They never backed down. They could go days without speaking during the passive aggressive phase.

I pretty much don't care what the other person thinks and I score low on the profile that categorizes the need to influence others. To some that is the most important element in communication.

[Quantess]

9. It's fine with me, as long as they don't try it too many more times with me.

It's okay if it's like an unspoken truth that you turned out to be right, and you should fully expect people to be too embarrassed to acknowledge it, at least the first time. But, I also expect that person to think twice before being so sure about something when they argue. Personally, I don't argue points unless I am fairly sure I am right, but how could the other person know that until they lost a couple of times? So I think I can understand that behavior up to a certain point. But yeah, only up to a certain point, and then you really question that person's judgment.

I know that I would be irritated if I were in your shoes.