Why do some people think they are smarter than you when they clearly aren’t?

[Anonymous]

Did this ever happen to you?

[Flatmanlewis]

The Dunning-Kruger Effect ( in which people wrongly overestimate their acumen, skill, or knowledge of a particular subject) is very common and, personally, I think rapid access to finger-tip facts rapidly has compounded it tremendously. People with very little knowledge about a subject, or just an introductory knowledge can collect a few talking points within a few minutes and feign expertise or actual functional knowledge.


You see this every election cycle with politics. People with zero understanding of how government works raging in heated debates.


You saw this in 2020 with discussion about criminal justice reform and people with no understanding of current laws, procedures, or training.


You see it now with all the armchair experts on warfare and military tactics and abilities discussing Russia in Ukraine or Israel in Gaza.


Add to that people often have a fringe touch-point with a topic and believe it gives them expertise. For example being a EMT is similar to, but is not a Paramedic. Neither one is being a doctor or RN but they all have some common knowledge overlaps. Being a door kicker in the military offers very little understanding of being a naval commander or a pilot. Despite never having served a military historian may have more strategic knowledge of some war but zero anecdotal experience.


It all depends on what you know AND the optic by which you come to that knowledge.

[DaBiggestBird]

Because that’s the first time they actually thought about something

[Beckybooboo]

There is a psychopath on here that constantly boasts about his intelligence. He also brags about how popular he is and all the followers he has (all ten of them). At heart he is an amazing guy but he definitely comes across as an arrogant prick. Am I right, @wallythewalrus2 ?

[Wallythewalrus2]

I don’t know who you’re talking about but he seems like a sexy guy.

[Anonymous]

If they did I wouldn't care. So they can flex all they want.

[andreasderjuengere]

Because I made them think so :)

[Crankor]

Because they are dumb