While this is a distinction that deserves to be made more, I don’t think it’s a valid criticism of the article in question. Here’s the explanation given after the phrase “focusing on being right above all else”:
Many smart people act as if being right trumps all else, and go around bluntly letting people know when they are wrong, as if this will somehow endear others to them. They also believe that they can change other people’s minds through argument and facts, ignoring how emotional and irrational people actually are when it comes to making decisions or adopting beliefs.
You must be reading that paragraph very differently to me. The point he’s making isn’t about wanting to appear right at all. It’s about the impression that some people give that being right is enough, and that diplomacy and the ability to present ones (correct) ideas are unimportant skills. There is nothing in that paragraph about how smart people behave on those occasions when they are not right.
bluntly letting people know when they are wrong, as if this will somehow endear others to them.
This sounds like it’s definitely about signaling that you are right. The second sentence, though I do agree with it, doesn’t seem like it’s the main point of the paragraph because of the “also.”
Like I said, you’re reading that very differently to the way I read it. To me, it’s about people not sugar-coating the truth, and not being diplomatic about the fact when they are right. In other words, it’s all well and good knowing that, say, homeopathy is nonsense, but you don’t get anywhere by insulting homeopaths (although it can be fun..)
While this is a distinction that deserves to be made more, I don’t think it’s a valid criticism of the article in question. Here’s the explanation given after the phrase “focusing on being right above all else”:
You must be reading that paragraph very differently to me. The point he’s making isn’t about wanting to appear right at all. It’s about the impression that some people give that being right is enough, and that diplomacy and the ability to present ones (correct) ideas are unimportant skills. There is nothing in that paragraph about how smart people behave on those occasions when they are not right.
The key phrase for me is this one:
This sounds like it’s definitely about signaling that you are right. The second sentence, though I do agree with it, doesn’t seem like it’s the main point of the paragraph because of the “also.”
Like I said, you’re reading that very differently to the way I read it. To me, it’s about people not sugar-coating the truth, and not being diplomatic about the fact when they are right. In other words, it’s all well and good knowing that, say, homeopathy is nonsense, but you don’t get anywhere by insulting homeopaths (although it can be fun..)