Are you a know-it-all?

Post Reply New Topic

Well today, my co-worker pointed out someone picked up a sycamore leaf... I not only said it was in fact from a London Planetree... but went into detail about the difference, the history of thst tree, different trees called sycamore, and its closest living relative is the lotus flower...

After reading parts of this thred, I might have a problem...


Did anyone mention yet that clouded leopard evolved from sabertooth tigers, I don't have time to read it all right now.

I am not a know-it-all, by the way. I suffer no illusions about having omiscience.

A Persian Proverb

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not
Is a fool. Shun him.
He who knows not and knows that he knows not
Is a child. Teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows
Is asleep. Wake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows
Is wise. Follow him.

Most often when I feel a know-it-all moment coming on I recite this and figure out where to go from there. Am I the wise man of the fool?

The wise man has nothing to prove. Secure in his own wisdom, he speaks very little. The fool runs his gob because he's always insecure about himself.

that's for you to say, I reckon

The wisest people are those who, like Socrates, admit their own ignorance.

those who speak, do not know
those who know, do not speak

-someone's tag line...

I've been told I have 'a smart mouth'...is that the same?...

Nope.

I am totally Mr. Know It All.
Me and Bullwinkle J. Moose.

As with many others, I have learned behaviors that run contrary to what I so recently discovered was symptomatic of Asperger Sans Bernaise Avec Syndrome. Still very hard not to fill in gaps in others' knowledge, but attempting to limit such to when others can appreciate the insights derived therefrom.

lol. Yeah. I know I don't know everything... not even close... but I do sometimes have an insatiable urge to correct ppl when I know they don't have a clue what they are talking about. Unfortunately, that does tend to get one labeled a know-it-all. Witty comebacks can be enduring... or they can get you branded a smart ass.
_________________
Still, all things considered, it is much better to be a smart ass than a dumb ass

Usually they get you branded as a smart-a$$. Especially if you've got an answer for everything. A dumb-a$$ doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

For someone with the same "affliction", you don't seem very understanding.

I understand, but I'm not sympathetic. I hate know-it-alls.

Well, I was once at a customer that used a tool I am WELL known for being an "expert" in! That is THEIR(Including some at the company that makes the tool) word, not mine, but I DO know a LOT about it!

Some IDIOT stated something as if it was a unique idea! I consider that 2 signs of an idiot, 1. Taking a common well know process in your industry and passing it off as a new idea. 2. Taking credit for that "new" process! He spent 3 HOURS telling us about this while I said the tool doesn't work that way, etc... He THEN told us to use this in the TOOL. Two more signs of an idiot, 1. Trying to solve a problem that you don't know exists by a complicated process that is destined to cause problems. 2. Not understanding, or even wanting to listen, that it can't be done!!

Well, they tried for MONTHS to get it to work, and then they came to ME asking for help. I said "I don't have the source code to the tool, and they wouldn't support it if I recompiled it, so I won't even BOTHER! I told you it wouldn't work!"! Last I knew, they were STILL using the old method with NO problems!

There's a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. No amount of of the former can give you any of the latter. Without wisdom, knowledge is useless.

My problem is not that I'm a know-it-all; it's that everyone else is a know-nothing. People enjoy flauting their ignorance by trying to get into arguments with me about things of which they have little knowledge.