Now that we are all in our late 40's and above. Has anyone ever called you or insinuated you are "A know it all" ?

Posted by Signature_Excellent@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 95 comments

To me a know it all is someone who talks a good game but cant fix or trouble shoot problems on their own. I'm a jack of all trades, can fix or band aide about anything. Recently I had a close friend ask for help. I remedy the situation. However they always want to do the opposite of what I suggest. This also goes for immediate family. Then why ask me for help? Do the shit yourself. This close friend said well you come off as a know it all. If you want me to watch I'm going to call out what you are fucking up. Usually I have to fix it later. I would rather do it right the first time. Anyone else?

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Da_full_monty@reddit

No, but Ive been called devils advocate by multiple ppl...

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BlownCamaro@reddit

I intentionally give people horrible advice to shock them into solving their own problems. An example from work:

Coworker was having an issue getting the manager's attention regarding an issue that was festering and getting worse day by day. The manager didn't seem to want to deal with it and kept brushing it off. "What's it's going to take to get his attention???" I went in the back, grabbed the charcoal fluid from a company BBQ, and a rag and set it on his desk. "Here you go. Start a small fire on his desk. When he rushes in to put it out, close the door." He laughed and said, "That's terrible advice! That's arson!" then he quickly came up with his own solution.

Problem solved!

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Signature_Excellent@reddit (OP)

I use to do something similar in the Air Force when I worked on jets. Not quite the same as you said. If I tasked a Airmen to do a job and they responded I don't know how. I would say do your best, one day you will have to make decisions and you have a 50/50 chance of being right. If you mess this job up I will show you the right way. I just wanted them to think for themselves.

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Dean-O_66@reddit

One thing I’ve figured out- just because you know the answer doesn’t mean everyone wants to hear it.

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Cranks_No_Start@reddit

>we are all in our late 40's

Ill be 60 in 4 months. Whats this 40s you're talking bout Willis

gif

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fridayimatwork@reddit

My 4th grade teacher encouraged the class to call me “know it all” because I corrected her on when Alaska became a state. In my house we’d have lots of arguments and rarely hard feelings. It didn’t occur to me that it would make her look bad lol, but imagine an adult encouraging a whole class to pick on the weird nerdy kid

Later she had a mental breakdown in the class, sobbing and yelling us we were awful etc. I wonder what became of her

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HemlockGrv@reddit

What a dreadful experience for a 4th grader! That teacher was obviously dragging some heavy baggage. Probably gave you some baggage too. I hope she got sorted.

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fridayimatwork@reddit

It’s pretty funny now. Most of the kids were like what? I think only the bully called me that. Yeah she wasn’t well

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Xavelle@reddit

Well now I want to know what happened to her! Maybe she was going through a divorce, or had bad evaluations or hated teaching and eventually opened her own florist shop.

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MikeOrTara@reddit

I know a LOT about the things I will engage someone in. My wife used to get very frustrated because she will readily admit I'm usually right when we talk about something. My answer to her frustration is always "If I hadn't already thought about this and was almost positive I was right, I wouldn't be arguing about it in the first place."

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freakymack@reddit

Nope

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prntmakr@reddit

Yes. My beautiful wife, all the time.

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Rikkitikkitabby@reddit

I was called an erudite once. They could have been legitimately impressed, or they took the long way to call me a know-it-all.

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The1Ylrebmik@reddit

Yes, but that started when I was in elementary school.

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Reader47b@reddit

I've been asked a couple times why I "use such big words," but not often. Mostly I've lived and moved around other people who use big words, so it hasn't been an issue.

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Chickwithknives@reddit

Because they are the most appropriate words to convey what I’m saying!!!! I got called Jeopardy Queen freshman year of college. I’ve been called a know it all for a loooonnngg time. Can’t help that I DO know a lot of shit!

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ZealousidealGrab1827@reddit

I am the first to admit that I don’t know what I don’t know, so no. I try to stay humble and know there is much more to learn.

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Signature_Excellent@reddit (OP)

I can relate to that. When it comes to wiring a house. Il be the first to say call a electrician. Unless it's simple light ficture, ceiling fan, outlet stuff. Only reason i do this is cause something goes wrong Ill be the first to blaim. And dont have a LLC.

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Desperate_County_680@reddit

I drink beer and I know things.

I have a youngster on my team. She once commented, in a positive way, that I know a lot. I replied that I've walked the earth a lot longer than she has.

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medisamurai@reddit

i am a know it all and i can admit that. i even tell people in advance, look, if im being a no it all, im trying to chill on that. And then i go on to explain some trivial fact they could care less about

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Signature_Excellent@reddit (OP)

I'm getting to the point if you just want to complain call someone else. This guy isn't a very good listener. I just try and fix shit. Be it personal problems or something physical that's broken.

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medisamurai@reddit

exactly, its nice when people can appreciate it. New gf is like, 'you show up on time and help me with stuff'.

Im like yeah, its just what i do, not even sure why. all i need is a thanks and im good.

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FionaFierce11@reddit

No. I’m old, not an asshole 🥺

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PissedCaucasian@reddit

No but I tell my teenager this all the time. I tell her that society doesn’t need AI when she already has all the answers.

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MaximumJones@reddit

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Signature_Excellent@reddit (OP)

So you are saying it's my approach? Like ( Yeah that's not gonna work, but try it anyway. Ill Fix it later)?

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KitchenNazi@reddit

I downplay it by saying I know tons of useless facts.

But I am an insufferable know it all. But I have learned to bite my tongue.

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mimi_whitehair@reddit

You're Cliff Clavin from Cheers!

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KitchenNazi@reddit

There's no rule against postal workers not dating women. It just works out that way.

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No_Gap_2700@reddit

Project Coordinator by trade. I deal with this daily. I get paid to solve problems and create solutions. Rarely do I get called a Know-It-All, but I am perpetually frustrated by the lack of initiative of people to just try. The number of bluetooth devices that I connect daily is asstounding because people just refuse to try or to even listen to what solution I provide for them. It's the leading a horse to water typce scenario daily.

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WenYiMedia@reddit

To quote TKOA, “you can lead a horticulture but you can’t make her think”

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arioandy@reddit

Politics of envy writ large

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Square_Ad_4929@reddit

Not gonna lie. I do know a lot. I’m also really good at just figuring shit out. I’m a facilities manager and it’s always fun when the young pups come to me for help. I’ll either make them think the solution through or sometimes it’s just fun to just do it. It a blast to just see there jaws drop and just stare into oblivion wondering how in the hell…

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ZombiesCall@reddit

I’m more of a “know nothing”.

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Cheap-Unit-2363@reddit

As a kid, I was called a know it all.

Today, everyone reaches out to me at work with, "I know you can answer my question."

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killslikeaninja@reddit

I would reply with,“I know your mom.”

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roginc@reddit

BURN 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

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Last_Canadian@reddit

Im not a know it all, I'm an asshole that thinks he knows everything.

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WenYiMedia@reddit

Eat alone a lot eh? Me too.

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roginc@reddit

Since I was 8.

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Unexpected_Knowitall@reddit

Yep

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SaltyDogBill@reddit

The technical term, is “smart ass”

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Basic_Cover_6945@reddit

Better than a dumb ass. One step up from a whole ass and still better than an ass hole.

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yurinator71@reddit

I am a know it all. I just know it.

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ErNz77@reddit

A know-it-all is someone who knows everything except how annoying they are.

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DPax_23@reddit

People are often annoyed that I have long-term institutional knowledge when they bring up "new ideas" we did already and discarded for important reasons.

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WenYiMedia@reddit

And now they’re removing all the foundation and pillars that keeps this country stable. By removing folks with the knowledge.

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bacchus213@reddit

I don't know it all, but I tend to question everything so 🤷‍♂️

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More_Armadillo_1607@reddit

Nah. They just call me a boomer. Anyone older than you that has a different opinion is a boomer.

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Hefty_Debt_638@reddit

Haha, yes. And it was waaaay before I even turned 40.

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No_Can2570@reddit

Nope

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aaron_grice@reddit

Quote from a younger coworker: “I’d Google it, but you’re faster…”

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lovebeinganasshole@reddit

Sure but I’ve noticed some will not google at all and if they do they don’t understand what the answer is. They don’t necessarily have the comprehension skills to actually apply what google comes up with. You also have to get crafty with asking google AI to make sure you get the right answer.

I have one person I trust to give me the right answer, my son and that’s because I know he researches like I do and will give me the right answer.

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DangRascal@reddit

Les Claypool might have mentioned it.

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FushiginaGiisan@reddit

I will not be told what do, I shall not step aside🎶

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AbsolutesDealer@reddit

And whatever rhymes with eloquent.

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Insightseekertoo@reddit

Only because I know it all in my field.

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bittinho@reddit

My older sister is the only one that has called me that repeatedly over the years but I think it’s because she doesn’t know very much at all so in comparison….

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Signature_Excellent@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately it's the women in my life that do this the most. Especially my middle sister, she has a guy at work that says otherwise. She is a HR lady, I respond then get him to come do it. Of course my tone is the problem and I'm just a asshole.

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bittinho@reddit

Sounds like you don’t need to help out anymore!

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dubgeek@reddit

I've been a know-it-all since middle school.

These days I know better and tell people "I'm not an know-it-all. I'm a know-it-alot."

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Tdot-77@reddit

Hermione Granger is my kindred spirit.

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National_Bus5390@reddit

No but I been called a smart ass many, many times.

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Historical_Bath_9854@reddit

Since I could talk🤣😂🤣😂

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Wise_Quality_5083@reddit

Yeah but that started in my twenties.

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Equivalent-Speed-631@reddit

No, I get asked a lot, “how do you know all this stuff?”

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Downtown_Anteater_38@reddit

We are in our what? My late 40s were over during the pandemic.

People have been calling me a know it all since I was a kid.

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tvieno@reddit

Nope. I am also humble enough to admit I am wrong.

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AUCE05@reddit

No, but I avoid stepping on cracks.

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Concentrate-Upper@reddit

What do you mean by insinuate? It’s a known fact that we are the “Know It All Generation!” Right kids?!? 😜

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SelectGuide4806@reddit

Endlessly. Jack of all trades.

People never include the last part: Jack of all trades, master of none, but oft times better than a master of one.

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cgriswoldirl@reddit

I used to make the mistake of trying to help people when they asked. Then I realized most of the time they just want affirmation of a stupid decision, not true advice.

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Signature_Excellent@reddit (OP)

Man I think you nailed it on the head. Thank you!

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SubstanceNo1544@reddit

Im a "do it right the first time" guy, it allows me to be lazy later.

As a previous person said jack of all trades and can throw a bandaid on almost anything. Same problem... i get asked for help then when i try to explain whats happening i get told im "talking down" or a "know it all"

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Accurate-Response317@reddit

Maybe when I was young they may have been right , now that I have aged I can ignore them because I now know I’m right.

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Signature_Excellent@reddit (OP)

I think that's part of my problem. I cant ignore things that are being done incorrectly. Cause Im going to be asked to fix after the fact.

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crashin70@reddit

Me: Between me and my brother we know everything! Them: what does string theory mean Me: you have to ask my brother that one and he's not here

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fastcatdog@reddit

Here’s a list of things I don’t know-

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Konklar@reddit

I mean, I thought I was wrong once. But I was just mistaken.

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egret_society@reddit

Pretty much since I started talking. I am generally not well liked

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MrTurtleTails@reddit

I do, in fact, know it all.

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SFO_Eric@reddit

Negative.

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Flababulous@reddit

(Well) into my 50s here. Not the know-it-all but I hear that I always have to get the last word in.

Which may or may not be true, depending on the intellectual depth of the participating conversants.

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