How important is it to be right?

[Dan From Smithville]

I like to be right. I think it is important that I present my thoughts correctly and that the conclusions I come to are sound. I don't like it when someone claims me to be wrong or shows me to be wrong on something I feel right about.

But I am not always right. Sometimes I make errors in content or in the premises I use and conclusions that I draw. Sometimes I read too fast and miss things or misunderstand things or impose my view out of context without realizing. Sometimes I make errors in logic. Sometimes I make typos or repetitions.

However, even where I am right, is my correct position so important or is the subject of that position so important that I have to keep driving my correct point home? Should I just recognize that I am correct and further discussion or debate along those lines would become gratuitous fodder for my own ego? Does it happen that being right becomes the point and the original topic of discussion is lost in a frantic effort to be seen as right about some triviality?

I think that mistakes happen to the best of us and worst of us. And at our best and at our worst. Isn't it more important to recognize those errors and learn from them rather than double down and force an incorrect position through.

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes? Does learning in some cases bear some similarity to mutation and evolution. Where some mistakes result in beneficial changes. Should I dislike it when someone properly corrects me?

I think I am right about this.

 

[sun rise]

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes?

Too many people flee from mistakes. Children make mistakes all the time and learn from them. Some adults have retained that ability.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I like to be right. I think it is important that I present my thoughts correctly and that the conclusions I come to are sound. I don't like it when someone claims me to be wrong or shows me to be wrong on something I feel right about.

But I am not always right. Sometimes I make errors in content or in the premises I use and conclusions that I draw. Sometimes I read too fast and miss things or misunderstand things or impose my view out of context without realizing. Sometimes I make errors in logic. Sometimes I make typos or repetitions.

However, even where I am right, is my correct position so important or is the subject of that position so important that I have to keep driving my correct point home? Should I just recognize that I am correct and further discussion or debate along those lines would become gratuitous fodder for my own ego? Does it happen that being right becomes the point and the original topic of discussion is lost in a frantic effort to be seen as right about some triviality?

I think that mistakes happen to the best of us and worst of us. And at our best and at our worst. Isn't it more important to recognize those errors and learn from them rather than double down and force an incorrect position through.

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes? Does learning in some cases bear some similarity to mutation and evolution. Where some mistakes result in beneficial changes. Should I dislike it when someone properly corrects me?

I think I am right about this.

It is our mistaks we learn from, so being wrong is actually a sign that we have more to learn

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I like to be right. I think it is important that I present my thoughts correctly and that the conclusions I come to are sound. I don't like it when someone claims me to be wrong or shows me to be wrong on something I feel right about.

But I am not always right. Sometimes I make errors in content or in the premises I use and conclusions that I draw. Sometimes I read too fast and miss things or misunderstand things or impose my view out of context without realizing. Sometimes I make errors in logic. Sometimes I make typos or repetitions.

However, even where I am right, is my correct position so important or is the subject of that position so important that I have to keep driving my correct point home? Should I just recognize that I am correct and further discussion or debate along those lines would become gratuitous fodder for my own ego? Does it happen that being right becomes the point and the original topic of discussion is lost in a frantic effort to be seen as right about some triviality?

I think that mistakes happen to the best of us and worst of us. And at our best and at our worst. Isn't it more important to recognize those errors and learn from them rather than double down and force an incorrect position through.

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes? Does learning in some cases bear some similarity to mutation and evolution. Where some mistakes result in beneficial changes. Should I dislike it when someone properly corrects me?

I think I am right about this.

I want to note that in reading through this, I have noticed some errors.

 

[Altfish]

Being correct is important, but you must be willing to change your mind when shown evidence to the contrary.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Being correct is important, but you must be willing to change your mind when shown evidence to the contrary.

Evidence is certainly a big part of it, but logic, reason and the connection to existing knowledge is also required. I think you mean that, but I just wanted to add it.

 

[Secret Chief]

It depends on the importance of the subject. Are we talking something trivial or are we talking ice cream?

 

[Jainarayan]

Sometimes it doesn’t matter. You can give logic, reasoning, proof, back up from others, or anything else, but when someone makes up their mind you’re wrong there’s no swaying them. At that point it’s important to them to be right. I’ve experienced it many times in professional, personal and internet exchanges. So you cut your losses and fold. As long as it causes no harm, give them the win.

 

[ChristineM]

I think I am right about this.

Being right is good but i cannot always be right. I try to follow the evidence where ever possible.

 

[Revoltingest]

I like to be right. I think it is important that I present my thoughts correctly and that the conclusions I come to are sound. I don't like it when someone claims me to be wrong or shows me to be wrong on something I feel right about.

But I am not always right. Sometimes I make errors in content or in the premises I use and conclusions that I draw. Sometimes I read too fast and miss things or misunderstand things or impose my view out of context without realizing. Sometimes I make errors in logic. Sometimes I make typos or repetitions.

However, even where I am right, is my correct position so important or is the subject of that position so important that I have to keep driving my correct point home? Should I just recognize that I am correct and further discussion or debate along those lines would become gratuitous fodder for my own ego? Does it happen that being right becomes the point and the original topic of discussion is lost in a frantic effort to be seen as right about some triviality?

I think that mistakes happen to the best of us and worst of us. And at our best and at our worst. Isn't it more important to recognize those errors and learn from them rather than double down and force an incorrect position through.

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes? Does learning in some cases bear some similarity to mutation and evolution. Where some mistakes result in beneficial changes. Should I dislike it when someone properly corrects me?

I think I am right about this.

Being right is less important than avoiding being wrong.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I like to be right. I think it is important that I present my thoughts correctly and that the conclusions I come to are sound. I don't like it when someone claims me to be wrong or shows me to be wrong on something I feel right about.

But I am not always right. Sometimes I make errors in content or in the premises I use and conclusions that I draw. Sometimes I read too fast and miss things or misunderstand things or impose my view out of context without realizing. Sometimes I make errors in logic. Sometimes I make typos or repetitions.

However, even where I am right, is my correct position so important or is the subject of that position so important that I have to keep driving my correct point home? Should I just recognize that I am correct and further discussion or debate along those lines would become gratuitous fodder for my own ego? Does it happen that being right becomes the point and the original topic of discussion is lost in a frantic effort to be seen as right about some triviality?

I think that mistakes happen to the best of us and worst of us. And at our best and at our worst. Isn't it more important to recognize those errors and learn from them rather than double down and force an incorrect position through.

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes? Does learning in some cases bear some similarity to mutation and evolution. Where some mistakes result in beneficial changes. Should I dislike it when someone properly corrects me?

I think I am right about this.

maybe it’s better to be wrong

then we have an opportunity to learn, so, maybe it’s better to make mistakes

don’t dislike someone for properly correcting you

I was tempted to correct your last sentence, but then I realized it may not need correction

 

[Nimos]

I like to be right. I think it is important that I present my thoughts correctly and that the conclusions I come to are sound. I don't like it when someone claims me to be wrong or shows me to be wrong on something I feel right about.

But I am not always right. Sometimes I make errors in content or in the premises I use and conclusions that I draw. Sometimes I read too fast and miss things or misunderstand things or impose my view out of context without realizing. Sometimes I make errors in logic. Sometimes I make typos or repetitions.

However, even where I am right, is my correct position so important or is the subject of that position so important that I have to keep driving my correct point home? Should I just recognize that I am correct and further discussion or debate along those lines would become gratuitous fodder for my own ego? Does it happen that being right becomes the point and the original topic of discussion is lost in a frantic effort to be seen as right about some triviality?

I think that mistakes happen to the best of us and worst of us. And at our best and at our worst. Isn't it more important to recognize those errors and learn from them rather than double down and force an incorrect position through.

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes? Does learning in some cases bear some similarity to mutation and evolution. Where some mistakes result in beneficial changes. Should I dislike it when someone properly corrects me?

I think I am right about this.

I think we all do what you write here, so wouldn't point fingers at you And I would say that we have to learn from our mistakes otherwise we will just keep making them over and over.

 

[Kooky]

I think it's more important to be wrong.

We can only improve through error and failure.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Sometimes it doesn’t matter. You can give logic, reasoning, proof, back up from others, or anything else, but when someone makes up their mind you’re wrong there’s no swaying them. At that point it’s important to them to be right. I’ve experienced it many times in professional, personal and internet exchanges. So you cut your losses and fold. As long as it causes no harm, give them the win.

I agree with you. It is part of that idea that prompted my thinking leading to the creation of this thread. How many times have I seen others beat a point to death at the expense of the argument even, just to win over a triviality? Worse, how many times have I done that?

One of the things I have noticed as I have gotten older is that I still have dreams and that I can still learn. Perhaps the wisdom of aging has allowed me the privilege or the recognition that I can even learn from me and my own mistakes.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

It depends on the importance of the subject. Are we talking something trivial or are we talking ice cream?

Both the trivial and ice cream, but it is the trivial where the tenacity to win seems so apparent.

When you see someone doggedly going after another person over some triviality, it does seem to stand out. Of course, sometimes it is two people that tango. One too stubborn to give up on a point and another too stubborn to recognize the futility of the argument or that it has turned personal.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

This thread was inspired by a series of posts on another thread today. I was struck by how important it was that two other posters show me up and how long they would stick with their efforts. What I posted wasn't all that significant, but they dug in and started firing. I was amazed at how much effort I had urged without trying at all. I was sad for them after a while.

But it did get me to thinking and wondering about this as a serious topic.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I think it is very human to be emotionally invested in our own views. We are not machines and we associate in settings like this to be heard as often then we do to listen. But I find it interesting how easily we can become derailed and lose the plot over something that has no impact on us in any real way. You can learn a lot. About others and about yourself.

 

[Bear Wild]

I like to be right. I think it is important that I present my thoughts correctly and that the conclusions I come to are sound. I don't like it when someone claims me to be wrong or shows me to be wrong on something I feel right about.

But I am not always right. Sometimes I make errors in content or in the premises I use and conclusions that I draw. Sometimes I read too fast and miss things or misunderstand things or impose my view out of context without realizing. Sometimes I make errors in logic. Sometimes I make typos or repetitions.

However, even where I am right, is my correct position so important or is the subject of that position so important that I have to keep driving my correct point home? Should I just recognize that I am correct and further discussion or debate along those lines would become gratuitous fodder for my own ego? Does it happen that being right becomes the point and the original topic of discussion is lost in a frantic effort to be seen as right about some triviality?

I think that mistakes happen to the best of us and worst of us. And at our best and at our worst. Isn't it more important to recognize those errors and learn from them rather than double down and force an incorrect position through.

Do we actually learn better by making mistakes? Does learning in some cases bear some similarity to mutation and evolution. Where some mistakes result in beneficial changes. Should I dislike it when someone properly corrects me?

I think I am right about this.

I definitely have learned so much from the mistakes in this forum just do not let anyone else in the forum hear this or read this. I also have been known to maintain an argument even when I am starting to think my point is not as valid as I thought when I started it. But the best thing I have learned is to accept the challenges when someone disagrees and learn from them. There have been several times I have been surprised and learned amazing new things. But if someone was right all of the time why even join a form at least from their perspective. You already know everything and would would never learn anything.

I also like when I find interesting common ground with others that I generally disagree with on the forum or have very different views.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I still think this best explains about being right.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I think it's more important to be wrong.

We can only improve through error and failure.

You do know that two wrongs don't make a right?

Personally, I would rather learn than be right or wrong but if it came to eeny-meeny, I 'd prefer right, with no great expectations as to such and hopefully avoiding the most wrong things.