We're not so different, you and I.

A phrase people say to me fairly often is, "You think you're always right." It's generally made in an acusatory tone after the speaker and I have been discussing something at length. It refers to the fact that I like to argue. I enjoy a good discussion about a variety of topics and I'm not afraid to disagree with others, no matter how firmly held their beliefs may be. It's been a bit of a trend in this blog too. Don't act like you haven't noticed. And while there may be some validity to the phrase, "You think you're always right," I believe it's a bit of a misnomer. Let's break it down:

If you're referring to factual information, then it's not true at all. Obviously, if I've heard a fact and comitted it to memory, believing it to be true, then I think I'm right about it. That does not, however, mean I'm not willing to investigate to find out whether I'm correct or not and it doesn't mean that I'm not willing to admit it when I turn out to be incorrect. I'd like to think that times when I feel sure about something, when I'd say something to the affect of, "I'm pretty positive," I turn out to be right more times than not. I haven't done a longitudinal study or any such nonsense though, so I can't really claim to know the percentages. I certainly don't claim to know everything or even most things and I've definitely been mistaken on many occasions. Britney Spears was, in fact, born in Kentwood, contrary to my feelings otherwise. I know more than some people, but less than a lot of people. I feel that I'm reasonably intelligent, but I don't have any proof of that, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

So maybe the phrase refers to issues of opinion. And, if that's the case, I'd say that it's mostly true. Changing the syntax to, "You always think you're right," might give it a bit more truthiness, but that's probably just splitting hairs. We'll work with the assumption that, "You think you're always right," is true when it comes to my opinion. And I ask, so what? Isn't that the case for everyone? If I didn't believe that my opinion was right, then it wouldn't be my opinion. If I didn't think I was correct in liking and respecting Fight Club, then I couldn't really like or respect Fight Club. If I didn't believe that Thrice had talent and wrote good songs, then I wouldn't listen to them or list them as one of my favorites. Truth is, everybody thinks their opinion is right. That's part of the definition.

I guess the problem comes in with the fact that I tend to vigorously defend my opinion. Unless it's something like, "asparagus is gross," I'll produce facts to support myself and logically argue as to why my opinion is the correct one. And it's fun. I enjoy it. I rarely get upset or frustrated. I'd say it's one of my favorite pastimes. I don't see how it makes me arrogant or mean.

The other thing that gets me in trouble is the fact that I tend to mock the opinions of others. But it's all in good fun. I swear. I don't honestly care that Bryan watches "Stargate" and loves "Resident Evil." It doesn't bother me that Maggie went to see Rascal Flats (even though their singer kinda' sounds like a girl). It's just good natured ribbing and, beyond my sister, I don't think I hurt many feelings.

Sure I'm "right," but everybody is in their own head.

I guess what I'm getting at is this:
I'm smarter than you in every way and all the music, books, movies and TV shows you like are crappy. I'm just a better person. Completely.

The end.