It feels good to be right, like getting the correct answer to a TV quiz show or proving someone wrong in the middle of an argument. However, some people present their statements so confidently without thinking they could ever be wrong, which puts them in embarrassing situations far more often than they’d like to admit.
The Reddit community Confidently Incorrect collects these laugh-worthy moments from all over the internet. We’re featuring them today yet again as proof that people’s ‘I’m always right’ gene seems to have no bounds. Scroll down to find the crème de la crème of incorrect statements people shared without hesitation online, and don’t forget to let us know your thoughts below!
#1 The English Major
#2 So… I Guess There Are No Real Tests For Any Illnesses At All?
#3 Apparently Dough Doesn’t Rise
We all like to believe that we are logical and rational creatures. However, in reality, humans are subject to preconceived judgments that unconsciously influence our decisions.
When we overconfidently think we’re right and can’t seem to accept the fact that we’re not, we’re experiencing confirmation bias.
#4 Betty Has No Mrna
#5 American Architecture > European Architecture
#6 Triple Facepalm
As trusted online mental health resource Verywell Mind explained, “Confirmation bias is a type of cognitive bias that favors information that confirms your previously existing beliefs or biases.”
A cognitive bias is a systematic thinking error that occurs in our minds when our brain attempts to simplify information about our surroundings. Processing all the data available to us takes a lot of time and energy, so our brains pick the details that agree with our pre-existing opinions and knowledge. They act as general rules that help us make sense of the world and reach decisions quicker.
#7 The Holy Trinity Of Trying To Teach Someone What Prefixes Are
#8 Oh My Sweet Summer Child
#9 Oh God, This Thread Goes On For 600 More Replies
Let’s have a look at an example that illustrates confirmation bias better. Imagine that you believe that Kamala Harris is a better choice for US president than Donald Trump. Chances are that you will seek information that showcases the candidate you support in a positive light while dismissing any facts that might have a negative effect on their image.
#10 “Yep!”
#11 Georgia
#12 Stay In School, Kids
Once you’re confronted with new information about Harris that confirms what you already believe, you’ll be more likely to accept it as true, overlook any flaws in it, incorporate it into your belief system, and remember it later to support your opinion during a discussion. On the other hand, if the new facts contradict your view of the candidate, you’ll be more likely to get defensive about it, criticise it and forget it later on.
#13 An Argument Over What’s Part Of Africa And What’s Not
#14 Paycheck/Paycheque
#15 Woke Up To This Conversation Between My Co-Owner And A New Member
Due to our tendency to dismiss data that isn’t compatible with our belief system, it can impair our logic and decisions and lead to poor choices. For instance, if we’re convinced that a certain investment is beneficial for us, we might ignore the red flags saying it’s not. Or if we are set on getting a job at a particular company, we may dismiss the signs showing it’s a toxic work environment.
#16 Somebody Refuses To Learn Junior High School Astronomy
#17 Men Are Missing A Rib, Just Google It
#18 I Don’t Think That’s How It Works
There’s no way to eliminate confirmation bias, as it happens due to the natural way our brains work. On a positive note, it can make us feel confident in our beliefs and preserve or build our self-esteem. This also helps us stay certain and secure in our environment.
#19 Physical Isn’t Actually Assault
#20 Good News! Woman Can’t Die Anymore!
#21 Today I Learned Oslo Is In Sweden
Even though this way of thinking can’t be entirely removed, we can take steps to avoid it. First, it’s important to accept that we have biases that impact our decisions. It’s in our nature to use mental shortcuts that allow us to make judgments more efficiently, but it also means that we tend to disregard facts that contradict our views.
#22 Someone Skipped Biology
#23 How Dare They Use French In France…
#24 Finally Found One
Then, when looking for information, thoroughly consider all the evidence available rather than just seeing data that confirms your opinion. Use credible sources and read them entirely before drawing any conclusions. Pointing out biases in others (respectfully, of course!) can additionally help an individual think more critically.
#25 Most Peaceful Man
#26 Poor Sod Doesn’t Know What An Idiom Is
#27 A Silly Person Not Understanding Physics
“Even if we can’t change others’ biases, remember they may be at play when we find ourselves in a disagreement with someone who seems very entrenched in their own viewpoint,” licensed psychologist David Susman, PhD, explains. “Rather than confronting them directly about how inaccurate or irrational we think they are, it’s often more productive to present facts and information in a nondirective way and ask them to consider an alternative point of view or some point of compromise.”
#28 Guy Thinks That The Democratic And Republic Parties Haven’t Had Political Shifts In Over 150 Years
#29 That’s One Way To Approach The Topic I Guess…
#30 Bro Doubled Down And Had The Audacity To Tell Others To “Educate” Themselves
#31 50 Years Is A Long Time To Be So Wrong
#32 *you’re
#33 “You’ve Gotten Off Lucky”. The Smugness Is K*lling Me
#34 I’m Embarrassed Grown Adults Can Be Brainwashed
#35 Transphobe Embarrasses Themselves
#36 Mmh-Hmm
#37 Guy Thinks America Wasn’t Founded In 1776 And You Can Only Be One Of Three Christian Denominations
#38 What Causes Strep Throat?
#39 This Sh*t
#40 “Barista” Confidently Incorrectly Thinks There’s No Difference Between A Latte And A Cappuccino
#41 Native Americans Aren’t Native?
#42 You Are Parents Failed You?
#43 Trying To Incorrectly Correct A Famous Author
#44 This Is So Embarrassing
#45 Fool Still Stubbornly Believes That Vaccines Cause Autism
#46 “6th Grade Problem In Europe”
#47 2% Does Not Equal 1 In 50
#48 Hmm
#49 Some People Are Just Allergic To Telling The Truth
#50 Um Actually, You Might Want To Check Your Spelling
#51 Mathematician Proves The Earth Is 8,000 Years Old
#52 Each Country Has Its Own Sun
#53 Yikes
#54 Chihuahua’s K*ll More Infants Than Pitbulls
#55 When A Bot Corrects You But You Double Down On The Mistake
#56 Are Posts From This Sub Allowed Too?
#57 In Regards To Leaving Someone “On Read”
#58 What Modern Human Doesn’t Know This? Uh…you, Friend
#59 The Sacred Wedding Constipation
#60 “The American Is Normal”
#61 Idiot Thinks You Straighten Hair By Washing It
#62 Kids Are Dumb
#63 Not How Percentages Or Averages Work
#64 “African American Is Just The Eloquent Way Of Saying Black, You Smart A*s”
#65 Good At English
#66 Simple Math Oh God
#67 It’s Just A Theory/S
#68 Repost, Just With The Names Removed
#69 Correcting Someone’s Spelling
#70 “Britain Is Not Located On The Continent Of Europe”
#71 Them’s Some Mighty Big Letters Considering You’re Incorrect
#72 Trying To Correct Someones Spelling Mistake
#73 “Y’all” Isn’t A Plural “You”
#74 Mike Graham Tries To Correct The Archbishop On The Name Of A Religious Holiday…
#75 When You’re Too Busy Inhaling “Crystals” That You Forgot The Existence Of Natural Crystals
#76 .999(Repeating) Does, In Fact, Equal 1
#77 Basic Physics
#78 Um, What??
#79 A Reddit Attorney Explains Tort Law
#80 Alright Science, Time To Pack Up: Rando#55496 Got Us Again
#81 This One Hurt My Brain
#82 I Think This Belongs Here…
#83 You Can Use “Are” With Every Plural
#84 The Amount Of Likes Is Scary
#85 On A Post About Schools Bringing Back Their Old Names For Confederate Leaders
#86 He’s Still Trying To Tell Me The Earth Is Stationary And The Sun Revolves Around Us…
#87 This Guy Claims To Be An Anthropology Expert
#88 Approximately 47 Mm LOL
#89 When You’re From The UK And Don’t Even Know The Geographic Boundaries Of Your Own Country
#90 The “Useless Emergency Doors” On The Architecture Shaming Page
#91 If Only We Discovered This Tecnology Earlier
#92 I Don’t Remember This From History Class
#93 How Big Was That Year?
#94 It’s Spelled Frunk
#95 Literally Could Of K*lled That Grammar-Bot
#96 F In Math
#97 When Transphobia Backfires: Jk Rowling Told This Trans Man He’d Never Be A Real Woman
#98 Communism Is When Capitalism
#99 Transphobes Don’t Even Know How Chromosomes Work
