Because there are no stupid questions, or something like that, I need some clarification about a thing I wondered about since the first time someone made me aware of the terms. One day, someone called me a “dumbass.” A few days later, someone called me a smartass for doing the same thing.
Is there a hierarchy involved with these terms, where I’m a dumbass if the guy saying it is smarter than me, and am a smartass if the guy is dumber than me?
I've always preferred being called a smartass. One's an asshole that's smart. The other is an asshole that's dumb. It's much better to be smart if you ask me.
When I look back on concepts that I no longer believe but once accepted without question, the change feels abrupt. However, upon closer examination, the shift was gradual. It was rather like a game of pick up sticks, where one by one, I withdrew my assumptions until the whole edifice crumbled
I love this. I wrote in a song once, "heaven is a place where we all find out how wrong we were." The ability to realize we can be wrong about our deeply held beliefs takes a lot of strength, and the only way to get around it is through the eyes of others, who could also be wrong about their deeply held beliefs. Looking forward to hearing more about the trust assembly.
Oh wow...I really enjoyed reading this piece! It's funny but when I was younger, the thought of someone thinking I was a dumbass would have sent me into insecure and heated denials and aggravation, but the older I get the more at peace I've become with my occasional dumbass-ery. I've found the humor and the humility to accept it with grace, and really, that's what it's all about. ☺️
It took me forever to get the spot I’m at and of course it’s still not perfect but it is refreshing to realize “okay I don’t have all the answers. How do we test things out to see what will work?”
just found your substack and a lot of what you write resonates with me, including this.
honest question - knowing what you know now, if you were back in the ride with Alan and he proposed his wicker battery idea to you, how would you respond differently? would you humor his idea in order to spare his feelings? (but surely, since he wanted you to invest your time or money in his idea, you would have to bluntly turn him down at some point?) or maybe you would just ease off the technical details? something like "it's an interesting idea, but i don't think it works like that"? i feel like that wouldn't dissuade someone as excited as he was.
Because there are no stupid questions, or something like that, I need some clarification about a thing I wondered about since the first time someone made me aware of the terms. One day, someone called me a “dumbass.” A few days later, someone called me a smartass for doing the same thing.
Is there a hierarchy involved with these terms, where I’m a dumbass if the guy saying it is smarter than me, and am a smartass if the guy is dumber than me?
Drawing way back to my days in the mill it’s a matter of mens rea.
A dumbass does something dumb without thought.
A smart ass does something dumb while thinking it to be clever.
Almost a distinction without a difference, but definitely an excellent example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect in action.
I've always preferred being called a smartass. One's an asshole that's smart. The other is an asshole that's dumb. It's much better to be smart if you ask me.
The nice thing about calling someone an a$$hole is that it’s not sexist.
When I look back on concepts that I no longer believe but once accepted without question, the change feels abrupt. However, upon closer examination, the shift was gradual. It was rather like a game of pick up sticks, where one by one, I withdrew my assumptions until the whole edifice crumbled
It’s a weird life. I was a staunch atheist not long ago.
I was a lifelong, 3rd gen “you can never go wrong voting the straight-ticket” Democrat
I love this. I wrote in a song once, "heaven is a place where we all find out how wrong we were." The ability to realize we can be wrong about our deeply held beliefs takes a lot of strength, and the only way to get around it is through the eyes of others, who could also be wrong about their deeply held beliefs. Looking forward to hearing more about the trust assembly.
I like to think about it because it’s one of those things that’s hard to make yourself fully believe even after you’ve resolved to believe it.
Oh wow...I really enjoyed reading this piece! It's funny but when I was younger, the thought of someone thinking I was a dumbass would have sent me into insecure and heated denials and aggravation, but the older I get the more at peace I've become with my occasional dumbass-ery. I've found the humor and the humility to accept it with grace, and really, that's what it's all about. ☺️
It took me forever to get the spot I’m at and of course it’s still not perfect but it is refreshing to realize “okay I don’t have all the answers. How do we test things out to see what will work?”
Good for you on your progress. I know how hard won it can be sometimes. 😁
just found your substack and a lot of what you write resonates with me, including this.
honest question - knowing what you know now, if you were back in the ride with Alan and he proposed his wicker battery idea to you, how would you respond differently? would you humor his idea in order to spare his feelings? (but surely, since he wanted you to invest your time or money in his idea, you would have to bluntly turn him down at some point?) or maybe you would just ease off the technical details? something like "it's an interesting idea, but i don't think it works like that"? i feel like that wouldn't dissuade someone as excited as he was.