If you were wrong, would you admit it?

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   jlparkposted 9 years ago

   If you were wrong, would you admit it?
   
   In discussions on HP or in life if you wish - if you were wrong, particularly in a discussion where you and another normally disagree. Would you admit it and apologise or go on with the facade? If you were the person apologised to - would you lord it over them or merely acknowledge and leave it? Remember this is if it was with someone with whom you generally disagree quite vehemently

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2. 0

   sheilamyersposted 9 years ago

   If someone came up with an explanation that would blast my ideas and beliefs out of the water, I'd admit I was wrong. The only thing I'd have to apologize for is if I said nasty things to that person during conversations. There's no reason to apologize for simply being wrong. If the other person came to me and apologized and told me they were wrong, I accept that apology and let it go at that.

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      JThomp42posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      My answer exactly!

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      And if a simple piece of research could prove you wrong? Rather than a 'blast my ideas out of the water'?
      I find it interesting that an apology isn't ness but then go on to say you accept one for the same reason. Just commenting, not judging.

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   Aime Fposted 9 years ago

   Yes, I would. I think it takes courage to admit that you were wrong, especially if it's to someone who you have disagreements with on a regular basis. I think being able to admit your own faults is a really good quality, so if someone apologized to me I would actually think quite a bit more of them than I did before (and also why I do my best to do it myself).
   
   I think that when it comes to a lot of the debates on here, there isn't a universal right or wrong, and I don't think that anyone should apologize for their beliefs. But they can certainly admit they were wrong for the way they expressed them if they were out of line or hurt someone's feelings. Debate should be about sharing ideas and having discussions, not making people feel bad. So if I overstep the line, I'm happy to admit that I was wrong for doing so.

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your answer. By apology I meant 'I was wrong, my apologies' type thing but this interpretation has garnered more thought so I'm happy!

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   Arachneaposted 9 years ago

   Yes. How else does one progress in life?

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      True true. However, not everyone seems to think as you do when actually in conversation!

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   Link10103posted 9 years ago

   If someone can actually point out/show me how I am wrong, rather than just tell me I am wrong without even trying to prove it, I wouldnt have much of a choice to admit it. Its not like it is a hurtful blow to my pride to do so anyway, since I dont usually claim I am 100% right about anything unless I literally just did some research beforehand.
   
   I just about always embrace the possibility that I am wrong whenever discussing something.

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      Robert the Bruceposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It's a mark of maturity to recognize and accept that you don't know every answer. This is how reasonable people think. Religious fundamentalists "answer" every difficult answer with unprovable claims. This way, they think they are never proven wrong.

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thats true Link. But if you realised you were, even with certain hubbers, would you admit to it, or wait till they proved it..?

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      Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I probably wouldnt realize I was wrong, since I dont normally take a positive or negative stance on something Im not even sure of.
      I would like to think that I would though.

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      jlparkposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      thats probably true for a lot of us I feel. thanks for sharing

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6. 73

   lone77starposted 9 years ago

   Absolutely!
   
   I've done this countless times. I still have an ego, but I don't let it reign over me.
   
   Ego is the enemy, but we can't resist it to get rid of it. We have to grow it and correct it as it grows. That's my current understanding and it makes a lot of sense. I've learned this from authentic Kabbalah (not the New Age, Madonna, Hollywood junk), the same people who wrote the Bible in code over 2000 years ago.
   
   Finding out that I'm wrong is part of learning. I welcome it.
   
   When I took creative writing in college, many years ago, I welcomed the criticism of other students, realizing that I was there to learn and that everything they said was more opportunity to accomplish that goal.
   
   I have studied and excelled at the sciences. I have a bachelors degree in computer information technology summa cum laude. I've been a software engineer, learning over 20 programming languages. And I've been a Hollywood artist with screen credit.
   
   I have also experienced dozens of miracles and now understand the mechanics of creation. If I had never admitted I was wrong, I never would have been able to move beyond my earlier limited understanding to greater knowledge.
   
   Life is too much fun to live in a security blanket.

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