I believe the term he's looking for is pedantic. pushes glasses up on nose
Also known as 'conversationally anal-retentive'.
Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
31–40 of 56 posts
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#32For me HE IS the technically dumb ass.
Wow!!, writing in his blog that his friend is a dumb ass because he wants to be right all the time!! My passive aggressive sensor just goes off scale. He NEEDS to be right because his internal insecurities so he gets angry with his friend and then ridicules his friend in his blog.
BTW, his friend is totally right, consistency has nothing to do with self discipline(discipline means you have to do constant effort against something), you really do not need that much effort to change something once you integrate it on a routine, he is the one that does not get it, but is in denial, because he does not want to be wrong.
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#33"Technical smart asses often have a narrow view of the world. They only see what’s in front of them."
I find this to be a tremendous leap in logic from the rest of the author's narrative. Some of the most technical, rationally driven people I know are also some of the most open minded, willing to judge new concepts on their own merits rather than deferring to culture or tradition.
Being a stickler for semantics does not mean you're incapable of objectivity, empathy or lateral thinking.
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#34Being consistent means learning new habits. You might require some self discipline initially, but as time goes along, it becomes a habit and you don't need as much discipline, especially when you start to see tangible progress. So I can see why he would be anal about it.
Your comment is a perfect example of this author was saying. The point of the post had nothing to do with the definition of self discipline or consistency. The point was that his friend was, as you say, being anal about this. There's no reason to be hung up on definitions in that case at all. They were both very obviously meaning the same thing and in contex it made total sense no matter what word you choose as correct. When I say you're a perfect example, I'm not trying to be insulting so please don't be offended. I'm just pointing it out. Can you see it?
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
My thought exactly -- does the author lack the self-awareness to realize that he is himself a smart ass?
Do you guys lack the reading-comprehension skills to understand that he talks about a SPECIFIC kind of smart-ass called a "pedant" which he is not?
So, his friend is not entitled to believe that consistency and self-discipline are different things?
What's the key to your success?
Consistency!
Ah, you mean self-discipline!
No, I mean consistency - they're different.
PEDANT!
Why is it pedantic to believe that two words are different, but it's not pedantic to ignore your friend's choice of words, and to try to substitute your own words in - and then get so pissed about it that you call your friend a "dumb ass" on the internet?
...irony missed.
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#36Or alternatively, you could just say what you mean instead and avoid the whole discussion in the first place.
But that would mean admitting that you were wrong...
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#37Not to disparage anyone but actually see this technical smartass stuff in the comments on HN all the time . Someone makes a good point then someone else nitpicks the most irrelevant detail or pulls out the dictionary definition of the word even though the person's point is clear as day. I agree with the author on a lot of this and personally feel that this sort of thing is a sign of poor social skills and an inabilit…
>Most of the time focusing on the technical details will get you nowhere but missing the point, totally off track, and arguing something very much unrelated to the original topic.
That's true some of the time. A lot of the time, though, the technical details are important. Look at the SOPA hearings. The reason they were so cringe-inducing is because all of the technical details were glossed over. You had uninformed Congressmen hand-waving their way past very important questions of implementation and side-effects.
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#38I have a much less flattering term for that kind of person: intelligent idiot. Extremely capable to deconstruct tiny details, utterly incapable of letting the details go. This type of person seems to be attracted by the computer industry for some reason.
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
My thought exactly -- does the author lack the self-awareness to realize that he is himself a smart ass?
Do you guys lack the reading-comprehension skills to understand that he talks about a SPECIFIC kind of smart-ass called a "pedant" which he is not?
Let me try again:
I'm only blogging about my friend because HE is being pedantic!
Again:
After 17 months and countless hours of debate, I believe I've finally crafted the perfect argument to prove to my friend once and for all that HE is the pedantic one!1!
Again:
Doctor, after I've spent months researching it on the internet, I was hoping that you could help me confirm my self-diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive behavior?
Again:
I'm not being annoying - he started it!!!
Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses
#40Not to disparage anyone but actually see this technical smartass stuff in the comments on HN all the time . Someone makes a good point then someone else nitpicks the most irrelevant detail or pulls out the dictionary definition of the word even though the person's point is clear as day. I agree with the author on a lot of this and personally feel that this sort of thing is a sign of poor social skills and an inabilit…
>Most of the time focusing on the technical details will get you nowhere but missing the point, totally off track, and arguing something very much unrelated to the original topic. That's true some of the time. A lot of the time, though, the technical details are important . Look at the SOPA hearings. The reason they were so cringe-inducing is because all of the technical details were glossed over. You had uninformed…
Yeah. I guess you're right. But my point still stands otherwise. I can't really think of another way to word that eight now, it escapes me but you still know what I mean. I stand corrected on that point though.