#1 Brb, Going To Dye My Hair Rainbow Colors So People Like This Will Be Repelled
We’ve all been there. You swear that one actor is in that film- no, you’re not mixing them up with someone else! Or you know for a fact that this song came out in 1997, not a year earlier or later. But sometimes, we’re just wrong! Everybody makes mistakes, and as embarrassing as it may be to have to own up to them, it’s even worse to dig your heels in and get called out online.
That’s where the Confidently Incorrect subreddit comes in. If you respectfully try to correct someone, and you’re actually right, you don’t need to worry about ending up here. But if you’re incredibly smug and simultaneously wrong, well, you might end up learning the hard way that you should be careful what you post online.
To find out why people are so inclined to believe that they’re correct, even when they’re not, we reached out to communication expert and author Dr. Michael Gerharz. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and break down why confidence is so important.
“Confidence is the duct tape of communication — it can patch over a lot of holes, at least temporarily,” Dr. Gerharz shared. “Speak boldly enough, and people might just overlook the fact that you’ve built your house on sand.”
So why do we become overconfident even when we’re wrong? “Because it works – at least in the short term,” the communication expert says. “Confidently stated nonsense can sound convincing, and it often leaves others too uncertain to challenge it.”
“Plus, when we project certainty, it’s easier to convince ourselves that we’re right, even when we’re not,” Dr. Gerharz explained. “You could call it a psychological safety blanket: ‘If I sound confident, no one will notice I might be wrong—even me.’"
"As the saying goes: ‘A bold assertion beats weak evidence.’ It’s a quick fix for uncertainty that creates the illusion of truth,” he added.
Clearly, the people featured on this list didn’t do a great job of correcting others. But is there a polite and respectful way to do so?
“Correcting someone is a delicate art, like defusing a bomb,” Dr. Gerharz says. “If you’re too blunt, it blows up; too cautious, and it still blows up. The trick is to snip the ego wire first. Keep the conversation focused on the idea, not the person. For example, saying ‘That’s wrong’ can feel like a personal attack.”
Instead of immediately telling someone they’re wrong, Dr. Gerharz recommends instead trying, “That’s interesting—I’ve always heard it differently. What do you think about this perspective?”
“Questions like these gently nudge toward the truth. They invite a conversation instead of launching a debate,” he explained. “Also, remember: nobody likes a know-it-all, especially one who doesn’t. If you’re swooping in to correct someone, make sure you’ve done your homework. Otherwise, you might end up as the next feature on the subreddit.”
And if you realize that you’re made a mistake, Dr. Gerharz suggests simply taking accountability. “We’ve all been there: halfway through a passionate argument, only to realize we’ve been confidently—and gloriously—wrong. The best approach? Own it. Fast,” he told Bored Panda.
“Something like: ‘Wow, I totally goofed there. Let me set the record straight.’ This not only clears the air but shows you value getting it right over saving face,” the expert explained. “Bonus: it also makes you more relatable. People trust those who admit their flaws more than those who act flawless.”
