I hate being the know-it-all. Help me stop.

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Sorry, I just have to urge to be right all the time. Everytime someone says something that's not correct. I correct it. I even correctg adults. I never realize what I'm doing. I always have trhe urge to always be right. And everytime someone proves me wrong, I get so mad. I could have went into a meltdown. I feel like noone is listening to me anymore.

Don't you hate being called the "little professor?" I do, and it's pretty annoying once I hear it.

Don't you hate being called "Smart", because if you hear it, you turn into well...

How can I stop? Has this happened to you? How do you think other people felt about it?


EDIT: Sorry. I remember a time this kid in class, was doing his homework. and I was appaled to hear that he couldn't spell the word dictionary. I went out and said "You have the intelligence of a duck." The class laughed. I thought it was funny at first. What kind of 12th grader does not know how to spell the word "Dictionary"

I also laughed and told him, they should have a show called "Are you smarter that "Josh Yallow" I wondered how many people would win a million dollars on that show. 20?

I'm the same way. For years I've been correcting people when I know they're wrong, and it really gets to me when they profess that I'm the one that's wrong even when from my stand point they are obviously mistaken. However, recently in the last few years, I've come to the conclusion, that it doesn't matter weather they think I'm right or not, but weather I actualy am right. In other words, I'll let them think that they're right, even if I know that they're wrong. I'll say things like "Hmm, isn't that interesting." while knowing in my mind that they couldn't be further from the truth. In a way that's even more satisfying than convincing them that I'm right, because I know that I'm right.

In a few occasions this isn't practical, such as someone dictating work procedures, in a situation like that, just consult someone higher up on the chain of command. And if they aggree with the other person, just go with it. Don't try to force the issue, especialy at work, as you could be repremanded, or worse. It can take some patience, but I think it's well worth it.

-Alerion

I have a long-term fear of being seen as a 'know-it-all', so I kind of learned to shut up at a younger age. Except around my parents, who don't really mind hearing my spiels.

The dictionary thing is mean; I would be tempted to do the same thing, but hey, I can't do long division.

Here is what you do: Get a big hammer and start hitting yourself in the head with it... that should make you know less (less then "all" anyway)

Alternatively take deep breaths when someone proves you wrong. Works for me.

Being a "little professor" is bound to get on the nerves of most everyone around you, and go to your own head if you are not careful.

Use your intelligence to help others rather than belitteling them, try to be open in a debate, rather than always standing your ground. It worked somewhat for me anyway, even if I still am a know-it-all

I try so hard to be quiet, unless I am asked. Sometimes it slips out in a whisper. It is difficult to suppress the urge to correct or answer dumb questions.
At home and at work it is expected that I be a know it all. I am not afraid to say "I don't know". I am also not afraid to be corrected, because that is one way of learning. I am human, and as such can make one or two mistakes a year.
My wife gets disappointed when I don't know the answer to her questions without doing research. At work, I make good money because I am an authority on almost anything I am asked about. If I don't know, I get an hour before I get asked again. Sometimes my boss tells me not to speak in a meeting unless spoken to first. During telephone conferences I get to sit next to the white board with a computer in front of me so I can scribble answers on the board.
Being a know it all is OK if you can be humble and do it in a small group. Remember, you are probably very dumb when it comes to people, and the NTs that appreciate you are probably very smart about people.
Just try to be quiet in public.

I used some sort of shock therapy to get out of my habit...whenever I corrected someone I would pinch myself..not to hurt myself too bad but enough to register in my brain that i was doing again

What does it do to correct people? How does that help anyone? It does not prove you right; it proves you cruel/unfeeling to someone in a different situation than you.

Being right serves no purpose except to divide and make light of mistakes that no one will care about in the future.

Ask yourself this, if I correct this, will it make a difference five years from now? If it does, then correct it. If it doesn't, write it down instead and focus on something else.

Besides, being right is relative to the situation . . . just like social skills in a conversation.

I think around jr. high school I realized that people didn't appreciate being corrected, and that they really didn't want to hear me spew all the knowledge I had accumulated in my head. After I realized that, I got along a lot better with other people. I occasionally do let Mr. Brainiac loose with my immediate family. They're used to it.

Z