Dear Prudence,
I am a highly intelligent person. I don’t say that with false confidence, I know I’m smart, I ace every test that’s given to me, I take in information like a sponge, and I speak multiple languages. Now I do like to brag a little because it’s the only thing I pride myself on. I’m not athletic, I’m not very good at the video games I play, and I can’t draw for shit. I have pretty bad imposter syndrome, but it’s never been able to touch the fact I am smart.
Unfortunately, this becomes a problem. If you ask me a question, 95% of the time I will be right. I can admit when I’m wrong, but unless proven otherwise, I’ll assume I’m right. People seem to not entirely like this. Even other people like me, who are pretty smart, tend to not like it. I don’t rub it in their faces. Of course, I like being right, and I do make an effort to hear others’ voices and opinions, but odds are, I am right. The way I see it, people think I can’t admit I’m wrong. But I can, I’m just not usually wrong, and so it makes it seem like I can’t admit that I am. Should I be guilty of being right? I don’t care particularly if people like me, but I don’t want to hurt feelings, and I’m not sure how to avoid that.
—The Wrong Answer