Know Your Stuff

As the great writer Mark Twain once said, "Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt". He was a fairly intelligent person. People ought to listen to him more often.

 You're having a conversation with someone, when it turns to a subject that you know well.  It's a topic you're very passionate about, or an event that you've experienced firsthand. Either way, you really do know what you're talking about.

And then the person with whom you are conversing makes a very idiotic comment. You politely then proceed to inform them of their incorrectness. But of course, being as foolish as they are apparently bound to be, they disagree with you. They try to tell you that they do indeed know best. You try to explain how you know that you're right, and expectantly, they continue to deny all sense and reason.

If you are going to argue a case, at least know what you are talking about. Do not sit there saying how World War 2 ended in 1957 to a history major. Do not tell an avid television show watcher about their favourite characters when you've only seen the pilot.

I mean really! Why do you feel the need to argue it? If you provide false information, and then are proven to be doing so, just admit you were wrong. There's no shame in admitting you've made a mistake. There is shame in fighting a war you've so clearly lost simply because you have too much pride.

So please, don't be that person that everybody wants to punch in the face. If you don't know what you're talking about, then just stop talking about it. Educate yourself on the matter first. Don't let your pride get in the way. It won't protect your cheek from the fist that will soon be flying at it.

Thank you kindly!