Stop being a know-it-all

I'm not sure the problem is that people think they know everything - but rather that people mistake discussion for debate.

By definition, a person enters a debate with a stance and defends it, in part by disproving opposing views. What bothers me are certain tactics used to do so. Including what I think some here are complaining about, the old 'discredit your opponent'. Pick on his spelling or grammar, make a personal attack against them.

I've seen whole threads where at least half the replies were slams against the person, ignoring the topic nearly entirely.



[edit on 28-3-2006 by Jadette]

Why are any of us here?

This whole existence is nothing but a race from one huge bore to the next.
People get all wound up about all kinds of trivial nonsense, and for what?
So they can be "right?" Does that somehow make them better than me?

Let me tell you something. Being right doesn't mean anything. Nobody cares. Because no matter what it is, it all ends up in the toilet or in the ground in the end, and nobody will remember how witty or clever or intelligent you were. And billions of people will die, and so what? Big deal. They don't care about you and you don't care about them and everyone just goes about their merry way, sliding into painful decay, while the youngsters who don't know any better make fun and laugh, and let them go ahead because one day they'll be laughed at, too, and the entire cycle continues forever and ever I guess until the Sun burns out, and then there REALLY won't be anyone around to care who said what about this or that or who killed who or who blew up what building because all of the people responsible and anyone who even knew who they were will be long gone, just worm food or some drift of dust on some cold, quiet planet out on some backwater galactic arm that nobody in their right mind would ever visit, because what is there out there that we can't find right here, right around the corner where it's easy to get to rather than out in the boondocks where we already know nothing is going on of any importance. So, sure, go on and post your little posts that mean nothing but a bit more wasted time, but what difference does it make, because all time is a waste. Just long stretches of tedium puncutated occasionally by the thrill of horror, destined to end badly.

[edit on 28-3-2006 by Enkidu]

Know It All
Killed in Action

Same acronym..hmmm..coincidence?
A warning to those who think they have all the answers?
Only the facts will tell, but who's facts?
Your's, or that Know-it-all's?

Nice thread.

[edit on 28-3-2006 by spacedoubt]

Enkidu

There's an element of truth in that diatribe, which, by the way is very well written, for the most part, and should be incorporated into some literary piece, which by the way might, with a little luck, achieve some kind of immortality, if there is in reality such a thing in all the universe. But on the other hand, some of us humans do make an impact on the world and are known beyond our time and our influence can reverberate to generations who may never know our names because of a simple act of kindness or violence. I'm not absolutely certain, but I think that might be your point. For some reason it all reminds me of this. If only we all could influence mankind in the way that the likes of Shakepeare have. For example, when he pondered beauty and mortality:

Sonnet 18
William Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

/ru44j

[edit on 2006/3/28 by GradyPhilpott]

Excellent thread!
Give the 20 year old's another 10 years, and they will start to mellow!
Remember those years, when especially turning 21, one had all the answers! lol Only to say years down the road, If I only knew then what I know now, oh how different I would have done things! Sound Familar, maybe with this thread of yours, they will listen and take advice - On second thought they already know don't they lol
I think God made them for us, so we learn patience lol That's it - Now I only have 9 more years before my oldest is 30 - God help me!
My youngest is 17 - Oh My! lol Great Kids though, I know, I will sign them up to ATS to view your thread lol! Patience is a Virtue!

I wish I had been half as caring, aware and inquisitive about the world around me when I was the age of the young members here at ATS. I was too self-centered...too oblivious.

Kudos to the generation who is looking past their noses and whatever other appendages that normally distract young people from what is much more important.

Kudos to the ATS community. You're are a grade above...hell you're two or three grades above.

Originally posted by AngelWings9999

Give the 20 year old's another 10 years, and they will start to mellow!
Remember those years, when especially turning 21, one had all the answers! lol

Man, do I remember!! I knew so much about life that I harrassed my folks into finally signing for me to enlist in the Army at 17 yrs. old during Vietnam.
My dad, a Korean War combat vet, kept trying to tell me "It's not going to be like what you think it is going to be like." Did I listen? Noooo.....it took my own experience of that reality to begin to realize that maybe the "old man" actually could get it right on some things. This is an epiphany which has only increased over time.

Now, if only my own girls, 16 and 24, would realize my great storehouse of wisdom...

As im a 40 yr old i can definately say i dont know it all, its why i joined ats as a member after lurking for a while.So much intelligent and thought provoking debate/discussion.

As for the 'know it alls', i dont want to become persona non grata here but ive found just as many long time members with this disease as i have with some of the newer members.

I probably come across that way myself from time to time(now maybe?).

Being anonymous is the greatest cause imho, but must be remembered as a father of four young children, some of the greatest truths are uttered by those without the benefit of years of prejudice/knowledge.

Excellent Thread posting Gemwolf, you got my last Wats for that.

I wish I had been half as caring, aware and inquisitive about the world around me when I was the age of the young members here at ATS. I was too self-centered...too oblivious.

You hit the nail right on the head Val. That rang home to me bigtime.

It seems to me that the profundity of children is a function of their concrete thought. It is when they become capable of abstract thought that they demonstrate their lack of understanding by insisting that they know everything. Paradoxically, it is often those who claim to know nothing who really act as though they do know everything. Someone mentioned patience and perhaps the most profound words are, "Let's wait and see what happens," which also might be among the most common famous last words, speaking of paradoxes.

But back to the profundity of children:

dianedew.com...

Gemwolf,

Excellent topic!

Personally, I consider myself a Jack of many, Master of few if any

Originally posted by apocalypticon
Now, if only my own girls, 16 and 24, would realize my great storehouse of wisdom...

11, 13, 17 with the eldest two being girls. Just let me say, "I feel your pain!?" Not a week goes by without a crisis. However, they are somewhat receptive to the Critical Thinking approach to a given situation. Not to dismiss, nor assume, but to look beyond.

Again, an excellent thread gemwolf!

I have been thinking this lately, although i didn't think to post about it, how dumb was that. My account is new but i have been here a long time lurking, so i know the kind of threads ats used to have.

I recently left a thread on something or other becuase everyone started accusing everyone else of being goverment agents. They were doing this i think to try and invalidate the other persons points.

The mud slinger always wins sadly.

Ok ok i have to make a side point here. Give us 20 year olds a break, we are not all the same (throws toys out of pram).

[edit on 28-3-2006 by ImaginaryReality1984]

Originally posted by GradyPhilpott
It seems to me that the profundity of children is a function of their concrete thought. It is when they become capable of abstract thought that they demonstrate their lack of understanding by insisting that they know everything. Paradoxically, it is often those who claim to know nothing who really act as though they do know everything. Someone mentioned patience and perhaps the most profound words are, "Let's wait and see what happens," which also might be among the most common famous last words, speaking of paradoxes.

But back to the profundity of children:

dianedew.com...

Isn't abstract thought a necessity for many areas of life, such as science and religion, however? Kids seem to employ it during play.

nice link grady, i get at least one of these sort of gems a week.

Sure with the benefit of life experience we should be above 'know it allism'(disease) but sadly not the case. Its true the younger generation does tend to come across as having all the answers, i know i thought i did, but by the same token that same attitude comes with its own insights.

Werent we all young once and yearn to be again.

I told my mother once when I was in my twenties and she was complaining about my younger sister, that she should be glad that teenagers do know so much, otherwise they'd never leave home. Every cloud has a silver lining.

off topic i know but my oldest is only 2 yrs away from becoming a teenager. I swore i wouldnt become my father when i had a family of my own. guess what! Im now repeating those same 'wisdoms' that i ignored when i was a teen.lol. Ah hindsight is a truly wonderful thing.

This is from the Southern band Black Oak Arkansas, and the name of the album is' If an angel came to see you, would you make her feel at home?
I try my best to keep in mind, all I see is a screen and some words, but never forget from whom that message comes. Thank you all for being so kind with my posts.

But when you've been granted the
privilege of being heard
yea take great care with this power and
watch every word
for when you know someone's listenin
your words can mean a great deal yea
they can be the key to magic thoughts
havin never been revealed
BOA

oh man...I hadn't thought of Black Oak Arkansas in years...ol' Jim Dandy...they came off as quite a rowdy bunch, as I recall (things are a bit hazy from those days...)

I was interested in science and technology when I was a Teen . Carl Sagan was my hero. I can Imagine having this wonderful machine at my fingertips 20 or 30 years ago, WOW!
At 47, after having college ruin a perfectly good education, having Art Bell Streaming into my head for 13 yrs, after reading tons of books on UFO's, Secret Societies, Conspiricies galore, I can honestly say,.......... I know very little.

Originally posted by apocalypticon
oh man...I hadn't thought of Black Oak Arkansas in years...ol' Jim Dandy...they came off as quite a rowdy bunch, as I recall (things are a bit hazy from those days...)

Yes, he was an idol of mine..I wonder why thay have not gotten back together? Lots of talent and good writing.