Fooling yourself

[madfishmonger]

"People hate the idea that they are mistaken, especially about something that they believe they have witnessed. They’d rather the laws of science and of likelihood were turned on their heads than believe they were wrong." - Max Pemberton

A part of this article, interesting on its own

Comments

[conformistsheep]

I don't want to sound all high-n-mighty, but i don't struggle with saying i was wrong. I've been wrong a lot, i suppose you get practice admitting it. Better admitting it and learning new perspectives or things, whatever the case may be, than being a stuck-up fool everyone, including yourself, knows is wrong but too stubborn to admit it.

Not to say i'm not stubborn.

[madfishmonger]

I learned it from a couple of family members who could NEVER admit they were wrong, even over silly little things or when proven completely wrong and taking it personally, as if somehow being wrong was a flaw. Seeing someone go to such extremes really put some sensible humility in me I think. The thing I struggle with is more the humiliation. I got bullied a lot when I was a kid, so when being wrong is embarrassing I have a hard time dealing with it.

[conformistsheep]

Maybe your relatives can help: Imagine how embarrassing it is to be so stubborn in their wrongness as you described them to be.

[redivivus]

It is easy now, but I learned the hard way to admit when I am wrong. You can lose so much when you can't admit your mistakes and I've made quite a few of them over the years. I've lost a lot as well, due to not being accountable nor taking responsibility for my errors. :)
I've also found, the consequences of admitting your wrong are usually much less than imagined.
As for changing my mind...why yes! All the time, even about those things that were once important. It's a sign of growth and maturity that your mind changes over time. As we age we find that there are many shifts in priorities. Change is rthe natural order of life. :)

[madfishmonger]

You're so right, not being accountable or being able to admit you were wrong is so much worse. And the consequences of admitting it are never that bad. I remember some of my relatives acting like the house was going to fall down on their heads or every baby on Earth would spontaneously combust if they ever said they were wrong. Very silly :)