Why do people act like they know every thing?

5StringDelirium · #1 01-26-2010, 06:56 AM

I just got into an argument with a friend over the quality of a network cable after it has been kinked. He automatically thinks he's right by saying it will work just like new and it is just annoying. I tried to tell him it wont work good for long but he didn't want to hear it.

I've known this person for about 8 years and he has always been like this. He has always treated me like I have no idea what i'm talking about. In this instance I actually know what i'm talking about because I went to school for this and have spent the last 4 years of my life in the field.

I don't know, maybe i'm over reacting but i don't know why people have to act like they know every thing. how do you deal with a person like that? Do you just let then think they are right or should you bring it to there attention that what they are saying is wrong?

Thanks for reading no matter how trivial but it was nice to vent. You know some times this forum can be therapeutic.

TheVoiceless · #2 01-26-2010, 07:40 AM

Well people like that live in bubbles. And its always funny to prove them wrong. But then again the time you are proven wrong then you look the fool.

dullsilver_mike · #3 01-26-2010, 07:54 AM

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I catch myself starting to answer questions I really know nothing about, then I stop and wonder what kind of benefit would possibly come from me opening my mouth. It's a pretty strong compulsion.

I was going to offer up my theories on where the compulsion comes from, but then I again realized I'd just be BSing an answer that really doesn't contribute anything of value.

playinpearls · #4 01-26-2010, 08:05 AM

must be one heck of a kink ...

Rocker949 · #5 01-26-2010, 08:09 AM

There are plenty of people who act like this. As far as motives, I'd say it's pride or just being incredibly stubborn.

Buslady7803 · #6 01-26-2010, 08:12 AM

Yeah we get that all the time. my hubby's 4th gen in the commercial transportation industry, we know buses forwards & backwards. People still argue with him about buses...silly things like insisting the new Greyhound Prevost X3s with their new paint scheme has never been to the west when we took photos of one at the LA downtown depot.

Yerf Dog · #7 01-26-2010, 08:16 AM

Of course if kinked cables didn't work, our DC would be in a lot of trouble.

TallLankyBastyd · #8 01-26-2010, 08:18 AM

I know that I do this because... well... it is just a natural result of my knowing everything.

I'm sorry... I'd like to stop... but knowing everything as I do is... sort of a curse.

Asa Samuel · #9 01-26-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dullsilver_mike

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I catch myself starting to answer questions I really know nothing about, then I stop and wonder what kind of benefit would possibly come from me opening my mouth. It's a pretty strong compulsion.

+1 I try to keep BS to a minimum!

PSPookie · #10 01-26-2010, 08:26 AM

I tend to assume I'm right unless and until you show me otherwise. When this happens, and it happens regularly, I accept it and move on. I don't know if it's due to my profession (engineer), my wife (also an engineer) who will not accept "I don't know" as an answer, or just my nature.

Sorry if it pisses you off.

Asa Samuel · #11 01-26-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

I tend to assume I'm right unless and until you show me otherwise. When this happens, and it happens regularly, I accept it and move on. I don't know if it's due to my profession (engineer), my wife (also an engineer) who will not accept "I don't know" as an answer, or just my nature.

Sorry if it pisses you off.

It would p*** me off less if you showed me the original link to your avatar, I can't read the caption!

JonathanD · #12 01-26-2010, 08:33 AM

You want respect shown for your ideas. I can understand that. However, I am finding respect to be a superhuman ability of late.

Good Luck.
Jonathan

DeluxeRed · #13 01-26-2010, 08:43 AM

Some folks do know a lot more than others. Maybe not everything, but some of us know an awful lot about a lot of things, and we're pretty sure of ourselves, 'cause we're usually right. And it's not like a cable kink is an absolute, sure to go one way or the other.

But as far as dealing with "know-it-alls", remember this: we only get treated by people the way we let them treat us. If you were to respond the first time and every time with "Fred, you're so full of ****. Hey, everyone, isn't Fred so full of ****?", the behavior would have at least changed 8 years ago.

So I imagine it's really a matter of: It's pretty handy to have Fred around, cuz he knows things, but annoying when he disagrees with me, cuz he knows things. So that leads to: Pick your fights carefully; it would have probably been easier to let it go (and maybe eventually fail, maybe not) than to get worked-up about it and burn any bridges.

Myself, I tend to not open my mouth unless I'm getting paid for it, TB being the exception, you lucky buggers.

nortonrider · #14 01-26-2010, 08:48 AM

The ones that really get me are the people who are supposed to know what they are talking about but don't!
Instead of just saying "I don't know, let me find out for you", You get a bunch of smoke blown up your butt and still don't ge a straight answer.

Don't know what I'm talking about??? Just go into a Home Depot, find an employee (if you can), ask them a technical question and see what happens.

Jim Nazium · #15 01-26-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nortonrider

The ones that really get me are the people who are supposed to know what they are talking about but don't!

+1
That drives me nuts. I used to work with a guy who talked like he knew more than anyone else at the company. He had one whole year of experience in the industry, and thought he knew more than the 15-year veterans.

I think it may come from insecurity. These people don't feel confident or secure, so they need to puff themselves up by acting like they know everything.

I have found arguing with such people to be frustrating and useless, so I don't do it anymore. I just smile and nod, and know that sooner or later they will say something really stupid in front of someone who really knows ...

dullsilver_mike · #16 01-26-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nortonrider

The ones that really get me are the people who are supposed to know what they are talking about but don't!
Instead of just saying "I don't know, let me find out for you", You get a bunch of smoke blown up your butt and still don't ge a straight answer.

Don't know what I'm talking about??? Just go into a Home Depot, find an employee (if you can), ask them a technical question and see what happens.

Not that it justifies blatant lying in any way, but if a stock boy putting something out on the floor at Home Depot doesn't happen to know everything on earth about the latest jigsaw, or whatever, and admits it to an inquisitive customer, he's got about a 80% chance of being patronized, and a decent chance of listening to a **** storm about what a moron he is.

That's what I hated most about retail, I would do people a favor by not blowing smoke up their butts, and (if my job is to stock shelves, why the hell should I know what toddler shoe is most popular this season!?) and get at best nasty looks and at worst attacked for it.

Truktek2 · #17 01-26-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

There there punkin. Take a deep breath and try to calm down. Everything will be OK. Shhhhhhh........

I do tech support sort of stuff (sort of) I talk to the customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills. I always try to say things with absolute authority, even if I might be full of crap. If you say something like you know what you're talking about, people tend to shut up and listen.

Except you, apparently. Guys like you............

Maybe you should get into sales. I hope I never need to get tech support from you.

Phalex · #18 01-26-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truktek2

Maybe you should get into sales. I hope I never need to get tech support from you.

OOPS! Actually, I have the wrong 5stringer. I misread the OP's handle and jumped really fast at an opportunity to screw with 5stringblues.

Sorry 5stringdelirium, the sarcasm wasn't meant for you.....

standupright · #19 01-26-2010, 09:28 AM

never argue with an idiot.

first they will drag you down to their level.

and then they will beat you with experience.

**john turner** · #20 01-26-2010, 09:32 AM

lol @ phalex.

to the op, i'd say the best way to deal with folks like that is to eject them from your life, or at least help them eject themselves from your life.

i've dealt with folks like that in the past, unfortunately - one in particular for a relatively long time, and the damage that that interraction did to me, personally, was only really evident once the person was gone, and took a long time to purge. and it's my own fault, really. should have severed ties when the character trait first showed itself. only gets harder to do as time goes by.

so sever every tie you can. that's my advice.