I'm Right-ism.
written by Julie R. Neidlinger 4 comments link this postSome people suffer from a severe case of I'm Right-ism.
Actually, they don't suffer from it as much as all the people around them do.
I actually suffer from I'm Wrongism. I naturally assume I'm mistaken or wrong, a sloppy and weak place to be. My flight instructor has more than once tried to get me past that by, for example, questioning a number I've calculated.
"Does this number look right to you?" he might ask.
I immediately say, "Oh, no, I did it wrong. That's wrong."
"Are you sure?" he'd ask.
I pause, and look at the number. I'm pretty careful, but I do make mistakes particularly when I'm doing all the math by hand. Then I realize that no, the number is correct. "No. It's right."
He'd nod and say that I need to have more confidence in myself.
But the I'm Rightist person. Completely insufferable and the only way he can be tolerated is to, essentially, walk away.
You can't tell him anything.
You can't get him to consider otherwise.
And if you manage to get him into a corner and he realizes he doesn't have much ground to stand on...well. He becomes the person I depicted here, the China Shop Bull.
In fact, yet another run-in with the worst I'm Rightist person I know on the internet reminded me of the China Shop Bull because it was drawn with him in mind after a previous incident. This person sees fit to actually write blog posts directed specifically toward me. I know I've only found some of them, for I don't visit his blog much anymore out of an inability to stomach the I'm Rightist tone.
The latest direct blog post effort, which I won't link to, was a humorous example at best of the classic elements of the I'm Rightist:
- Not having all the information in a particular situation doesn't stop him from making grand pronouncements.
- There seems to be no reason to not make judgment calls in personal issues of other people.
- Assuming his life experience is accurate and true for all human experience.
- Considers himself an expert in a particular area(s) and has the arrogance (only) to back that up.
I read it, rolled my eyes, and closed out the browser. No point in wasting my time or energy. All I could think was, sadly, "whatever."
In person, I have been known to deal with such people by letting them yammer on and, when they stop to take a breath, simply say in a particularly smarmy and conceding tone: "You're right. Yep. Absolutely right. I have nothing to say."
Then I shrug and walk away and don't let them say another thing.
The I'm Rightist will go insane; he may even try to follow and continue talking. He already thinks he's right, and doesn't need affirmation. What he needs is an audience. He also understands that I don't actually think he's right no matter what I say, and by walking away, I don't give him the chance to protest and continue.
So.
Think you're right?
I'm "sure" you are.
(walking away now.)
Labels: essay
Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger 8/26/2008 09:24:00 PM
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4 Comments:
These days I'm shying away from I'm Right-ism. It's too messy because I have to prove everything. I've taken more to You're Wrong-ism. There's less to prove and it shifts the grunt work to others.
By 
Steve Scott, at
27/8/08 03:00
Sounds like a good flight instructor.
Fuel consumption and weight and balance are not calculations you want to screw up.
By PRCalDude, at
27/8/08 15:09
He's a very good instructor, very particular.
I'm the kind of student that requires a lot of patience from anyone teaching me stuff, and he hasn't lost it yet.
By Julie R. Neidlinger, at
27/8/08 15:43
LOL at Steve Scott ...
I began life as an I'm right person. God used my frailty and sinfulness to bring me to my knees -- hence the period when I was an I'm wrong person. Wouldn't it be nice to be an "I'm listening.." person?
By Kevin, at
28/8/08 22:48
