Death of a Know-It-All
Sean Sands waves goodbye to his inner know-it-all and embraces ignorance.
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Sean Sands waves goodbye to his inner know-it-all and embraces ignorance.
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Death of a Know-It-All
- Thread starter Sean Sands
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Okay, now I'm going to go ahead and tell you why you are wrong in everything you wrote.
Just kidding.
I do believe that some people do believe themselves to be infallible and automatically dismiss other people's opinions.
My favorite philosopher, Socrates, always claimed that he knew nothing. That was why he was always walking around and asking thought provoking questions, because he was in search of the truth himself.
Just kidding.
I do believe that some people do believe themselves to be infallible and automatically dismiss other people's opinions.
My favorite philosopher, Socrates, always claimed that he knew nothing. That was why he was always walking around and asking thought provoking questions, because he was in search of the truth himself.
It might just be more common to see this attitude since the Internet is one giant hate and criticism machine. I imagine this sort of attitude has carried over for as long as humans have been around, making assumptions about the people running things. "Surely if I were in charge I'd do it better!". I can imagine a peasant wishing they were the king or queen, making things run much more smoothly.
I think what matters more is the ability to admit you were wrong. People have been pissed at me because I espouse my thoughts on games as if I believe them to be fact, but that is because I do believe them to be fact. That is, until someone can prove me wrong.
Once someone is capable of proving me wrong I am willing to concede my point. However, I see no reason not to believe strongly in what I am saying, stating it as fact.
However, I typically only try to speak on topics that I do have a lot of knowledge about. There are plenty of things where I don't have much knowledge about that I let it be known. Then there are times where I talk as if I'm an authority on the matter anyway. It's just human behavior.
As stated, the real difference is merely for anyone to say "Ok, you have sufficient proof and/or argument to prove me wrong, therefore you are right". Most people, I've found, just close their ears off and may even result to insulting you.
I think what matters more is the ability to admit you were wrong. People have been pissed at me because I espouse my thoughts on games as if I believe them to be fact, but that is because I do believe them to be fact. That is, until someone can prove me wrong.
Once someone is capable of proving me wrong I am willing to concede my point. However, I see no reason not to believe strongly in what I am saying, stating it as fact.
However, I typically only try to speak on topics that I do have a lot of knowledge about. There are plenty of things where I don't have much knowledge about that I let it be known. Then there are times where I talk as if I'm an authority on the matter anyway. It's just human behavior.
As stated, the real difference is merely for anyone to say "Ok, you have sufficient proof and/or argument to prove me wrong, therefore you are right". Most people, I've found, just close their ears off and may even result to insulting you.
i don't think that quite makes sense, ccesarano: if they are opinions, how can they be proven wrong? e.g. let's say that you said something like "ico is the best game of all time!" or even "the pastel colors in yoshi's island work better than the pastel colors in paladin's quest" -- how could someone possibly prove that wrong, or right? i think the point of the post was rather that, when something can't be proven right (or wrong), we not state it as if it were right (or wrong). the only things that can be proven right or wrong are matters of measurement: e.g. that the nes outsold the game boy or vice versa. and that type of stuff is not what people usually argue about.
So, first we have Erin telling us all that our video game ideas suck and we shouldn't discuss them and now we have you telling us we shouldn't speculate on who will win the console war, when/if there will be a price drop, what new consoles/games will be like, what the future of games could/should be, how the global recession may affect the market, whether there will be a shift to cheaper Indie games, whether mainstream support for end-user modding (with Halo 3 Forge and Little Big Planet) will eventually put creative control in the hands of consumers and make it harder for developers to push their own content - especially, pay-through-the-nose DLC.
Thanks. You've now left us nothing to talk about except the weather.
Thanks. You've now left us nothing to talk about except the weather.
Well... it is kinda cloudy today....Uncompetative said:
(someone yells "Sod off, it's not that cloudy!")
But no. Sean isn't telling us not to discuss things- only to accept that what we BELIEVE may not be solid FACT. I could bring up the Gaming Discussion forums, close my eyes and randomly touch my monitor, and odds are good I'd be pointing at yet another "Halo sux/rulz" thread crowded with people who simply cannot accept that others feel differently about a single game than they do. It takes a certain level of mental maturity to say to yourself "Self, you know, maybe you're not totally right on this one, why don't you listen to what this guy/gal/sentient furniture has to say?"
it´s good to be a master
but it´s best to be a student.
if more people would question their self-rightiousness this earth would be a better place.
And those who do not have any questions left are not becoming good teachers - actually they are braindead.
but it´s best to be a student.
if more people would question their self-rightiousness this earth would be a better place.
And those who do not have any questions left are not becoming good teachers - actually they are braindead.
Everyone has a right to an opinion about everything. No one is right about everything. Without discussion opinions cannot change. Telling us to not express our opinions as fact, but as some wishy-washy parenthetically-qualified psuedo-statement just mires the debate in verbiage. Essentially, his recommendation is utopian and naive, stagnating arguments in "too long, didn't read" ripostes.The Rogue Wolf said:
I am dreading the day that I have that epiphany. The day when I realize that I don't know everything (of course I know that I don't know everything, but that knowledge hasn't hit me yet). I hope it's not for a long time; I'm still 21 and I want to retain my youthful ignorance for as long as I can.
A good piece by Sean. His points I can agree with. I am very pleased that my university education has revealed just how hard it is to zero in on the truth; and know a good deal about an area.
On the topic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGDndcxH-O4
Like the quote Bloodred pixel. Being a student is great fun.
On the topic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGDndcxH-O4
Like the quote Bloodred pixel. Being a student is great fun.
My opinion is that Uncompetative doesn't understand the point, or at least has come to a different conclusion about the subject than I have.Uncompetative said:
My understanding about the article is that most people, myself included, believe their interpretations to be correct to the degree that they will not accept other points of view. For example, I want to smack Un-whatever upside the head for being stupid, a reaction which is entirely out of place with the actual situation (merely having different opinions/interpretations).
While it is true that losing one's arrogance would likely destroy the universe and Pluto, I can't help but to sarcastically mock you simply because I'm a smug SOB feeding off of the earnings of others and becoming more and more arrogant by proclaiming my arrogance in such a way that makes me feel more humble and, therefore, superior.
PROVE. ME. WRONG.
BTW, we're currently discussing our opinions on whether or not we always assume we are in the right, not whether or not to make arguments. L2 Philosophize(sp?).
Firstly
Secondly (This is originaly by rinkuhero who is right below your original post, if you want to dicuss it further take it up with him).
i don't think that quite makes sense, ccesarano: if they are opinions, how can they be proven wrong? e.g. let's say that you said something like "ico is the best game of all time!" or even "the pastel colors in yoshi's island work better than the pastel colors in paladin's quest" -- how could someone possibly prove that wrong, or right? i think the point of the post was rather that, when something can't be proven right (or wrong), we not state it as if it were right (or wrong). the only things that can be proven right or wrong are matters of measurement: e.g. that the nes outsold the game boy or vice versa. and that type of stuff is not what people usually argue about.
Lolz.ccesarano said:
Secondly (This is originaly by rinkuhero who is right below your original post, if you want to dicuss it further take it up with him).
i don't think that quite makes sense, ccesarano: if they are opinions, how can they be proven wrong? e.g. let's say that you said something like "ico is the best game of all time!" or even "the pastel colors in yoshi's island work better than the pastel colors in paladin's quest" -- how could someone possibly prove that wrong, or right? i think the point of the post was rather that, when something can't be proven right (or wrong), we not state it as if it were right (or wrong). the only things that can be proven right or wrong are matters of measurement: e.g. that the nes outsold the game boy or vice versa. and that type of stuff is not what people usually argue about.
Right, then. You're a moron.Uncompetative said:
Had I wished to "mire the debate in verbiage" I'd have pointed out that making absolute statements about subjective opinions is largely a waste of time and far more likely to get mired in "sux/rox" idiot-savant slapfighting than a reasoned and tempered discussion. I'd also have pointed out that at no point did Sean say people shouldn't express themselves, merely that they should consider that maybe, just possibly, the other side in a discussion of opinions and merits might have a point.
But you don't want that, so I'll stick with "you're a moron" because that's pithy and requires no effort to write.
-- Steve
Sean, for you, a link. [http://xkcd.com/277/]Sean Sands said:
And for you, ccesarano, another link [http://yeppoh.stage-select.com/] (# 128)ccesarano said:
This world would be a nicer place, maybe not better, but definitely nicer, if people didn't have to be proven wrong to accept the fact that they might be. The only problem is that you are more likely to remember what you think is true, so things that go against your beliefs and opinions are likely to be ignored or forgotten quickly.
Nice article, Sean, your on your way to becoming the next Socrates.
