Do you feel the need to prove someone wrong?

Sometimes. Not if it’s after a well thought discussion or evaluation. But I do when it’s arbitrary and hasn’t been considered properly. I had projects at work where some people have dismissed an idea out of hand. I keep plugging it away or keep it in a drawer until there’s been a staff change.

Quite the opposite. I tend to ruminate on negativity, real or perceived, and hang myself with it.

Not saying it’s right, it’s just how my brain works.

There was this arrogant punk on this MMO I play that was beating a few people in a row dueling. He was saying in the chat that he “was a god” etc. So I challenged him, and he beat me the first time, but I knew it was due to some of the game lag, so I challeneged him again and beat him twice in a row. He stopped accepting my duel invites after that.

So, yeah…there’s that.

I have not found the “I’ll show him” attitude has ever worked for me. I have never, that I can recall, had someone tell me not to do something.

Unfortuneately no. It’s been my experience that people who feel the need are more successful in life.

I think I may be like that but in a cheerful manner and not in a cutthroat sort of way.

@bkcunningham Why would it be cheerful or cutthroat? That confuses me.

When I answered, @JLeslie, the first thing I was just thinking about was certain shots I’ve made recently when shooting pool or shuffleboard that were extraordinary. When I have made them, my opponent and I would scream and laugh at how amazing the shots were. They defied all laws of nature and commonsense. Yet, I would take the chance and make the shot for fun and to see if, yes by golly, I could prove my opponent wrong. Not because I wanted to slam them, but because we were having fun and it was fun for us both in the heat of the moment.

I can think of many other examples as I type this and in most the person who I was “proving” something to was as competitive and cocky and I. That makes it much more fun.

@bkcunningham I see. I was thinking bigger things. Like a parent telling their kid they will never amount to anything. Or, friends discouraging someone from taking a risk to start their own business, that sort of thing.

@Seek_Kolinahr I think I do that also.

@Blackberry I play Hawx, and I’m not going to lie, I kick ass on that game, it’s odd, but mostly I find that I am actually better at it when I’m not focusing all of my attention on it. If I play while having a conversation with someone, I end up with way more kills. I did go out and buy a mic though because they found it very hard to believe that I was a girl, not sure that really counts, $10 at Walmart.

Bigger things? You haven’t watched me shoot pool. ~

Way better to let them do it to themselves.

Yes. I am pretty determined that way. So if someone tells me I can’t do something I feel I really can do, their lack of confidence in me will push me to try. It has to be something that matters to me. Not some sort of superficial crap.

It’s almost like being immune to reverse psychology, if I hear “you won’t get that” I’ll think “maybe, maybe not” but I don’t let it affect me either way. I can see how there would be benefits to not caring what others think, but at the same time, I almost wish I did, because I wish I had that kind of drive.

@cheebdragon I’ve been guilty of that. For some reason, guys will choose female charcters and pretend to be women (to get items I guess). I called this person out for trying to flirt with me, only to hear her come on the mic and prove me wrong lol.

No. I back off and let the other person think whatever he wishes. I find I’m happier with myself if I don’t compete. Fact is, I’m a really sore loser. I’d rather work cooperatively than in contention. I’ll leave the competition to others. I’ve always thought that if it ever came to direct combat, I’d be in a support group, probably cooking. It takes all kinds of people to make a community work.

It is in the delivery of the challenge and the challenger. If it is someone who I don’t really respect, I couldn’t care less what they say I can or cannot do. If it is someone who I respect, and their challenge is delivered in just such a way; it is on.

I worked for an man who I had a love/hate relationship with for many years-even when I wasn’t working for him. We had each others’ numbers, so to speak. He had just the right way of challenging me and pulling out the very best in me. I always took his challenges and I always won. I think part of it was to prove something to myself, part was to gain his approval and part was to feel that high of doing something no one else could do.

No. I don’t care much about peoples’ opinions, in general. Even if I did, I know that opinions are not provably right or wrong.

If someone is factually and provably wrong, then I might attempt to show them that it’s so. What’s in it for me?

Quite often.

I am an arrogant bastard who has been told many things I have done are impossible, but I know better because I was there when I did them.

@rexacoracofalipitorius Those who are factually wrong tend to see a side of me that most people never see. You know how I really am, but those who only know me from Fluther postings would probably never guess that I am actually a nice guy.

Only one person, one time.
My ex husband. lol
Heh…he grossly underestimated me.

Nope. Not anymore.

I revel in the challenge when someone tells me that I’m not able to do something. I may not totally succeed but I usually achieve a high level of success while I wallow in overwhelming joy of having a good fight.

If someone says I can’t or won’t do something, I might think, “Psh, watch me.” But then I revert to my normal mode (unmotivated/lazy), and usually end up proving them right. Sigh.

Tell me I can’t do something and I’ll do my best to prove you wrong.

(who the eff are you to tell me I can’t?)

For me, attempts at proving another person wrong have too often been neither successful nor appreciated. I tend not to try much anymore.

No, i’m motivated by my own values not by the machinations of others.

I remember when I was in the Army and was selected to attend the “Advanced Medical Lab Course” at the Academy of Health Sciences at Ft Sam Houston. My First Sergeant told be that he thought that I was being set up for failure because in his opinion there was one way an old sergeant like me (I was 43 at the time) could pass the 3 month long chemistry section of the one year long course. Oh that was a sweet one. I got the 3rd highest grade in the class.

To other people, no. If someone says I can’t do something, okay fine. Maybe I can, maybe I can’t. But when I go out of my way to achieve something, the motivation for it is beyond trying to prove someone wrong. I’ll do it for myself if I believe it needs or should get done, but fuck other people. Not gonna go out and be a champion just because someone thinks I can’t do something.

unless you think you can beat me at Street Fighter