In grade school, I would not admit mistakes. Ever. As Zetetic pointed out, it was a good way to invite additional torment. If you stood your ground, you looked douchey but you never conceded and so the frustration was less.
In college, I admitted mistakes frequently because admission of mistakes actually brought benefits instead. People didn’t torment you and your admission opened up new pathways. Being humble was a pragmatic virtue.
When I left college, I found out that adults are the worst people I’ve ever dealt with. Status competition was fierce—especially at my government job—and so I never, NEVER, admitted a mistake unless I had planted the mistake for that purpose. If you admitted anything, if you hadn’t staged everything perfectly, it would all be used against you. I learned that there was nothing positive in the world, only negatives. Life as a series of demerits until demise.
I think that’s why people have hardened so far in their positions, even in private: they have learned that admitting mistakes will bring them harm and learning from them will gain them comparatively little.
Just another reason I live on welfare instead of work, I guess.
In grade school, I would not admit mistakes. Ever. As Zetetic pointed out, it was a good way to invite additional torment. If you stood your ground, you looked douchey but you never conceded and so the frustration was less.
In college, I admitted mistakes frequently because admission of mistakes actually brought benefits instead. People didn’t torment you and your admission opened up new pathways. Being humble was a pragmatic virtue.
When I left college, I found out that adults are the worst people I’ve ever dealt with. Status competition was fierce—especially at my government job—and so I never, NEVER, admitted a mistake unless I had planted the mistake for that purpose. If you admitted anything, if you hadn’t staged everything perfectly, it would all be used against you. I learned that there was nothing positive in the world, only negatives. Life as a series of demerits until demise.
I think that’s why people have hardened so far in their positions, even in private: they have learned that admitting mistakes will bring them harm and learning from them will gain them comparatively little.
Just another reason I live on welfare instead of work, I guess.
This isn’t universally so, you just need to look for other environments. Ask people you know to figure out how things are where.
Sadly, in this economy, my best bet is to use my last job to get a new government job. It only gets worse with permanent positions.