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Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses

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Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses

#51

Post by earbitscom »

rkon wrote: post #41
forgottenpaswrd wrote: post #32

For 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 mea…

No, they're both wrong, but his friend misses the more important point: self-discipline is necessary to alter the status quo, not consistency.

I believe the more important point was, "Dude, you know what I'm talking about. Getting to a point of consistency requires discipline, so stop trying to correct me for the sake of it."

Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses

#52

Post by AznHisoka »

kenjackson wrote: post #47
AznHisoka wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the distinction is between the need to use willpower and our logical/rational abilities vs. not needing to use it. The Rational Rider vs. The Elephant/Lizard Brain. When we make something a habit, it just naturally becomes a normal behavior. When we need to use discipline, we need to use self control in order to fight against a natural instinct that's more pleasurable. Of course, there's always a combination…

But if you're being pedantic, discipline usually isn't defined with respect to willpower. It's defined with respect to control. To be clearer -- consistency and discipline aren't exactly the same, but you get consistency in human behavior via discipline. Technically the original poster was correct. What the pedant did required discipline. The pedant saying that it wasn't discipline was actually not even technically c…

Self control and willpower goes hand in hand. What else are you using to control yourself? I'm not sure what definition of discipline you are referring to, otherwise. In any case if I'm using your definition, then there's no sense in arguing, the argument wouldn't be interesting anyway.

Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses

#53

Post by billpatrianakos »

AznHisoka wrote: post #44
billpatrianakos wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 corre…

Yes, I see the point. You're right, you're 100% right. It's all about ego satisfaction. Your response was even a better example :)

Wow, I didn't even realize it. I guess the lesson is we should all stop commenting as none of seem to be able to cut it out. It's funny how you can be totally well meaning and believe you're above it all yet somehow fall into the same trap you strive to avoid. Like me!

Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses

#54

Post by billpatrianakos »

eli wrote: post #17
noahc wrote: post #9

I am torn on this issue. I try not to be like this, but words have meaning. And if words don't have meaning or have arbitrary meaning then we can't communicate. Some words have more specific meaning than others. One thing that drives me absolutely nuts is when people (my girlfriend) use supposedly to not mean anything. My girlfriend uses it when someone else told her something. So she might say, "Supposedly, She went…

Some people believe the dictionary prescribes how words are to be used. Others believe the dictionary merely captures descriptions of how words are already being used. I think the truth is probably somewhere in between.

That's probably true but I think this really speaks to the fact that many of us get all technical for lack of certain social skills. Like your comment's parent... The example he gave says a lot. On the one hand if you get what the person means even if they don't use the technically correct term all that really matters is that you both understand the intended meaning. On the other hand I think it's perfectly fine to nitpick at times. Those times would be if someone is very obviously ignorant of what a word means, especially if they use it wrong constantly.

But in the end I think being able to know when to pick those battles is a subtle social skill some people need to learn. It's really hard to explain. It's an interesting topic because it entails all the different ways humans communicate. It's not just words. It's tone, facial expression, volume, gestures, context, and even knowing a person's background or history can give you those subtle clues as to whether this is an ignorant person who needs to be corrected or if it's just an isolated fluke that still allows you to get the intended message and therefore requires no corrections from you.

Me? Well most of the time I think people get what I mean, dictionaries be damned and nitpicking a definition is a petty way to argue sometimes.

Re: Why Technical Smart Asses are Technically Dumb Asses

#55

Post by kstenerud »

It's interesting to see how the OP approached the argument: telling his friend straight out that consistency and self discipline are the same thing, rather than saying that self-discipline breeds consistency.

Had he gone with the latter, the argument likely would not have happened. Instead, he misspoke, and then when his friend corrected him (they aren't exactly the same thing, after all), his ego got the better of him and he pushed on into a pissing match rather than clarifying his position. And then be blogged about what a dumb ass his friend is.

There are many lessons on relationships to be learned here, and the OP has pretty much missed all of them.

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