Do you care about the facts?
By craftcatcher
@craftcatcher (3699)
United States
June 1, 2007 11:40am CST
I am insatiably curious about everything. I want to know how things work and exactly what they're made of and why. I read constantly and try to learn everything I can about a wide variety of subjects. I can't help myself, I have been this way as long as I can remember. Most of my friends call me the "Walking Encyclopedia" or a "know-it-all".Sometimes it's flattering, sometimes they get very frustrated with me.
I honestly don't mean to be rude to people, but when I hear someone talking complete nonsense it's very hard for me not to say something. I don't walk up to people and tell them "you're wrong". I try to say something like, "I read an article a few weeks ago about that and this is what "so-and-so expert" says about it..."
I try to be as tactful, diplomatic and kind as I possibly can be but sometimes people don't care about the facts or the truth and prefer lies and illogical nonsense. I just can not understand this.. but I've learned when to keep my mouth shut...uh... most of the time. LOL.
Do you prefer to hear the facts or do you care that you're hearing nonsense and lies that someone made up?
4 people like this
9 responses
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
2 Jun 07
Yep it's gotten me in trouble a few times! But as I've gotten older I've gotten a little more mellow. It still drives me crazy but I just kind of turn around and laugh.
Thanks :D
2 people like this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
26 Jul 07
I am with you on this topic too and have a low tolerance for people who spew out misinformation and then become annoyed when someone presents another...of course perspective!
Facts, truth, continuity, things being as they appear and people walking their talk are very important to me within my inner circle. People with whom I am less involved with...well now I just let them talk until they reveal who they 'really' are...and keep my mouth shut. Eventually they will get caught up in their tangled web of untruths. As I stand by in quietness and confidence... I am becoming more aware that there is a strength in quietude. Wow...what a valuable life lesson for this chatterbox to learn.LOL
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I think facts are one of the most important things in the world.
Nonsense and lies, while entertaining serve no beneficial or educational purposes..so yeah, I prefer to dig up the facts instead of taking someone's word for it.
Misinformation annoys me to no end, but the more I fight it..the more hopeless it seems.
I try not to tell people they're wrong, too. I try to stick to only saying something which is contradictory to their currents beliefs -- myths in other words, about important things. Because if anything I stand for, it's treating everyone fairly.
It's a hard line to walk sometimes.
I adore facts..and I'm overly curious myself. I dig through info on the internet and read twenty or so books from the library every week I can visit. ^_^
3 people like this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Are you sure we weren't seperated at birth? LOL
1 person likes this
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
3 Jun 07
im a digger too. i never accept the fact and always save it im somewhere in my brain to be my "home work" project. all the question without an answer always bugging me. Even, my ex-husband scare for what im thinking,.. i guest.. from his face, i can still see that.Well, you know asian husband will feel that we step in his ego when a women speak bravely and smarter than he is.I was just saying what i though, its just the way i am, even when my parents stop me for dong something, i always ask why. and when its make sence, then ill stop.For example;some old neighbor said that i shouldn't sit under the door while im eating, then i asking why, they don't know why but they still believe its a bad luck.
well,.. for me it doesn't make sence at all. don't you think?
i do learning to shut my mouth in some case..
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I don't think it's an Asian male trait.. most men everywhere don't like their ego stepped on. I'm glad you have the courage to speak up and not take myth and lies as the truth. It would be a smarter and better world if everyone listened to the truth and facts.
Keep digging diansinta! :D
3 people like this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
2 Jun 07
Generally speaking I agree with you, however it is also important to consider how we decide which 'facts' are verifiable as diferent sources cite diferent facts. neither are experts always reliable since often experts disagree what is then most important to consider is the quality of the source and the validity of the argument presented.
all the best urban
2 people like this
@lillake (1630)
• United States
2 Jun 07
I'm the same way with the things that I'm passionate about. It irritates me to no end when people repeat myths or just make up their own facts without having an ounce of fact to them. I just can't let it go by without correcting them. I hate to think of someone believing the myths and lies.
3 people like this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
2 Jun 07
It is very difficult. Some people just don't care and others have no sense of logic whatsoever. I'm mellowing with age but it will always be frustrating to me.
Thanks ;D
2 people like this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
3 Jun 07
I prefer the facts, but I like them sugar coated and delivered as diplomtically as possible. Unless I am arguing with my husband or complaining about him. Then, under all circumnstances, I siply want to be agreed with on all counts.
When I was a teenager someone told me I was a walking dictionry, and so help me god this is a true story, I said, "You mean encyclopedia." Lol, I was probably 13 or 14 and so serious!
3 people like this
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Diplomatic and tactful is best and the most polite and yep I tend to drop some of my tactfullness with my husband.. I'm only human after all.. LOL
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's been called a walking dictionary and changed it to encyclopedia! That's funny!
2 people like this
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
21 Jul 07
I am curious about the facts but not on how things work. I am so nosey when it comes to crimes and such. I don't know why but I have always been this way. I always want to drive by the scene or follow the emergency vehicles. I swear I should have been a reporter.
1 person likes this
@RosieS57 (889)
• United States
8 Aug 07
It's called being a polyhistor and it's not easy to be one. I am one, too, and also have eidetic memory to go with it.
I think it's important when you are this way to remain humble. After all, it is a gift and most individuals aren't gifted in this way -- it's not their fault that they aren't.
On the other hand (there's always another hand, ya know) those who use the gifts need to thank us or be reminded to be grateful if they aren't. If I'm asked "Where is (insert name of lost object here)?" and I can tell them exactly within 10 seconds, the use of this gift is important to be acknowledged.
Just so. No pridefulness, but no being taken for granted, either. I hope you know what I mean.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
8 Aug 07
Absolutely I know what you mean. I don't quite have eidetic memory but I do have an above average memory capacity. I remember a lot of detail that most people never notice.
I will cop to being a polyhistor though, you are correct it's not easy. They used to call me a walking encyclopedia in school, some in an admirable tone, most just thought I was an irritating know-it-all, no matter how politely I told a fact.
I still have one friend who, whenever she's out shooting pool or just out with friends and someone brings up a question that no one has an answer for, I always get a phone call. I've probably been responsible for settling thousands of dollars worth of bar bets and never see a penny of it! LOL.
I appreciate the confidence she has in my ability, but sometimes it gets a little irritating to be used in such a way. Especially when the phone calls come at midnight!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
8 Aug 07
I think I am just like you. I used to know someone who always wanted to be right even when he was wrong, and if he did not spell a word correctly, for example, he would insist he was right and if someone went to get a dictionary, he would cover his eyes and if someone read aloud from the dictionary, he would cover his ears. That was my father, and I am just the opposite. When I was a kid and other children were playing, I used to sit and read the dictionary. The internet makes it so much easier to learn new things and find answers to questions, though. When I sit down at the computer and start "Googling" things, that is heaven to me.
