We all have people in our live that think or feel they know everything. Usually, These type of people like to tell us how they know so much and make us feel like we are inferior, which makes it a very difficult task to even try to communicate with them. Dealing with people who think they know everything can be a VERY challenging task and rather irritating. Very little people like someone who thinks they know everything. Many people will do all they can to avoid such personalities. Unfortunately for me that would avoiding almost every person I interact with! I admit arrogant personalities are perhaps the most difficult types of people for me to deal with. My tolerance level for people is very high. I can deal with almost any personality but this personality drives me crazy! I have learned to bite my tongue as much as I can, but sometimes I feel like I want to explode. Plus my tongue is really starting to hurt. I now have learned just to walk away from these types of situations before it gets to that point.
The Truth is nobody knows EVERYTHING! Best believe these types of people have a damn answer for EVERYTHING and omg don’t try to come back with something that questions what they are saying…It’s never good! I have 3 friends that we can discuss any and everything and sometimes it can even get heated but we all respect each other enough to listen to the other person’s side. We are also smart enough to admit if we are wrong. These are the only people I would ever talk about religion, politics, parenting, or any other hot topics with. I have other friends that I would rather have my tooth pulled then to have a serious conversation with. My uncle god rest is his soul was this type of person. He would argue with anybody and could be wrong as hell but HE WOULD NEVER ADMIT THAT! You could know he was flat wrong but he was so good he would have you questioning yourself!
The other day I was chatting with a close friend and she was like “you know so and so seems so judgmental about everyone and everything, she also seems to think she knows everything” I admit I almost spit my drink out laughing. I have been saying the same thing for YEARS Now! I just have learned this is the type of person she is and deal with it. I agreed with her and told her just ignore it. That’s my best advice for anyone dealing with people like this. You could try to confront them but let’s be honest it’s not going to help and will cause more drama. This week I found myself going back to this conversation while I am talking to this Ms so and so person. I admit I have noticed lately it has become worse than before! I sometimes sit back and think well I see why you don’t have many friends. To be honest if it keeps up like it is now she will be marking me off that list to. Now, I am sure your saying but what happened to ignoring it Jen, Well I have my limits also and can only take so much. Really, I am taking way more then I usually do. I have been known to cut friends for far more little reason. The only people I would never cut are my 3 BFFF’s and family. I will be honest I am not the type of person that need’s a lot of friends to make me complete or happy. As long as I have my 3 close friends and of course family, I’m good. I don’t trust people all like that anyways, which is another reason my circle is small and tight.
However if you’re dealing with people like this daily and you feel your blood boiling, Here are my Tips to deal with these people! Please feel free to add a comment and give me more! I THINK I NEED THEM!
Give the benefit of the doubt
You need to listen to what the person is saying so that you don’t miss out on any important information or knowledge that they could be passing on to you, especially if you don`t have ALL the facts to disprove what the other person is saying. Sometimes they can actually be right. Even if you do have the facts right in front of you to dispute what the person is telling you, sometimes it is best not to challenge the person because this could cause them to resent you and thus create other relational problems between them and you.
Shrug it off
Yes, I am aware of how hard that may be especially when you know this person is FLAT OUT WRONG! Most of the time it better to just shrug it off rather than confront them. People are this way because of an innate need to be correct. Perhaps when they were young, adults were always telling them they were wrong about what they knew as they were growing up. This would be especially true if one of the parents was a know it all themselves. So I blame my Grandmother on why my Uncles are like this! Lord knows that women thought she knew everything! Matter of fact her whole family thought they knew EVERYTHING! I just wish I was “smart” as them. (ROLLS EYES). Being like this is a state of mind that can be extremely difficult to break through, particularly if it is rooted in your self-image. So from now on SHRUG IT OFF, especially if that person is a friend, or if it isn’t important to prove them wrong.
Laugh about it
Most of the time, you know that what the person is saying is simply not true. They can actually be funny people because even in the face of opposing facts they have a very hard time letting go of their own belief. Sometimes laughing about the fallacies can actually show them their own foolishness in a polite and fun way. Besides, laughing is a good way to defuse the person who might be a participant in an important and critical conversation, but who has a hard time seeing the viewpoints of others.
Walk away from the conversation
Know it alls can be a bit exasperating, especially when they don`t change a belief when contradictory facts are presented to them. Sometimes they are so convinced that their own position is correct that they will become hostile in the defense of that position. When this happens it is best just to walk away rather than feed into and challenge the hostility. I know myself and that would not be good for either of us so I try to calmly walk away way before it gets to that point.
Dee says
Oh man, I know several people like this and it drives me nuts!
blueviolet @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I avoid those people like the plague. I remember in school that there was always one in every class too!
Lisa says
too funny I have a very close relative like your uncle. he will swear he’s right no matter what and my husband and I just look at each other and shrug.
Janessa says
Geesh you’re making it difficult for those of us who DO know it all. 😉 j/k LOL I totally agree with this, and it’s much easier to just ignore them and move right along but every once in a while they do deserve to be called out on their crap.