Admitting Defeat

Be honest and admit you were wrong. Explain why you changed your mind. I think the other person will appreciate the fact that you're willing to admit it when you're wrong.

After reading your profile, I think you should disregard my earlier post. I've learned that you are much wiser.

I don't see any problem with saying "Oh yeah, I guess you have been right all along." In that instance, you will have learned something and unless you take yourself too seriously, it shouldn't matter that you were wrong at first.

I would love to think that I wouldn't feel bad about being wrong and that at least I learned something from the experience...but I know that I would just feel silly to interrupt someone in the middle of a heated, emotional argument to say, "excuse me, uh...you're right and I'm wrong. Sorry for the confusion. Nice dress by the way, is it new?" And of course, there will be an obligatory cheesy smile followed by a long, awkward silence at the end of which we will still feel like we are arguing.

You're focusing on the bad. :wink:

truth
Because the good is not a problem :wink:

Very true, JLNobody.

But if the problem is that you have to give a "cheesy smile" and a long awkward silence, perhaps there is comfort in knowing that the friend you are arguing with will someday be wrong in another arguement and will have to return the cheesy smile and suck it up?

Don't worry, you can't be wrong all the time, so you will one day gain revenge on your friend by winning the next arguement.

Why is revenge so sweet?


Oooh! Another good thread perhaps?

I spent a lot of time in other people's lectures at Uni, largely because they were far more interesting than mine but also because they offered more opportunities for discussion.
In my girlfriend's psychology lecture I spent a good half hour arguing for one particular point that was diametrically opposed to the lecturer's point.
I started to realise as I continued that I was in fact reasoning it out and slowly turning it all around, so I stopped and said to the class at large that I understand where this is going to I'll take it to it's logical conclusion which eventually brought me in line with the Prof's point.
It was a learning experience.

Say you're wrong if you are.
If new information comes to light that requires you to change your opinion then do so.