60 of the Best Posts of All Time from 'Confidently False'

60 of the Best Posts of All Time from ‘Confidently False’

Fake it ’til you make it! Whether you’re terrified of asking your crush out or you’re worried about finally having to take your practical driving test, you’ll feel much better when you finally have the courage to go through with it. Pretending to exude confidence can also be the perfect way to land your success dream job or let yourself ride a roller coaster. But there’s a time and place to be extremely sure of yourself, and the Internet won’t be very forgiving if you’re overconfident. And incorrect…

Below are some of the best posts of all time from the Certainly incorrect subreddit. This community, which has 1.1 million members, is dedicated to calling out people who really need to check their facts before posting online. So enjoy scrolling through these screenshots and keep reading to find a conversation with a communications expert Dr. Michael Gerharz!

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We’ve all been there. You swear that one actor is in that movie. No, you are not confusing them with anyone else! Or you know for sure that this song came out in 1997, and not a year earlier or later. But sometimes we’re just wrong! Everyone makes mistakes, and as embarrassing as it may be to admit them, it’s even worse to dig in your heels and get called online.

That’s where the Certainly incorrect subreddit comes in. If you respectfully try to correct someone, and you’re actually right, you don’t have to worry about ending up here. But if you’re incredibly smug and wrong at the same time, you may end up learning the hard way that you need to be careful about what you post online.

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To find out why people are so inclined to believe they’re right even when they’re not, we reached out to communications expert and author Dr. Michael Gerharz. He was kind enough to have a chat Bored Panda and explain why trust is so important.

“Trust is the duct tape of communication – it can close many gaps, at least temporarily,” Dr. Gerharz. “Speak boldly enough, and people may overlook the fact that you built your house on sand.”

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So why do we become overconfident even when we are wrong? “Because it works – at least in the short term,” says the communications expert. “Confident nonsense can sound convincing, and it often leaves others too insecure to question it.”

“Moreover, it is easier to convince when we project certainty ourselves that we are right, even if we are not,” explained Dr. Gerharz out. “You could call it a psychological security blanket: ‘If I sound confident, no one will know I’m wrong, not even me.’”

“As the saying goes, ‘A bold claim beats weak evidence.’ It is a quick fix for uncertainty that creates the illusion of truth,” he added.

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Clearly, the people on this list have not done a good job of correcting others. But is there a polite and respectful way to do that?

“Correcting someone is a delicate art, like defusing a bomb,” says Dr. Gerharz. “If you’re too blunt, it will explode; too careful and it still explodes. The trick is to cut 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.”

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Rather than immediately telling someone they’re wrong, Dr. Gerharz recommends trying it instead: “That’s interesting, I’ve always heard it differently.” What do you think of this perspective?”

“Questions like these tend gently toward the truth. They invite conversation rather than launching a debate,” he explains. “Also remember: No one likes a know-it-all, especially one who not. If you want to correct someone, make sure you have done your homework. Otherwise, you could end up as the next feature on the subreddit.

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And if you realize you’ve made a mistake, Dr. Gerharz suggests you simply take responsibility. “We’ve all been there: halfway through a passionate argument, only to realize we’d been confidently – and gloriously – wrong. The best approach? Own it. Quick,” he told Bored Panda.

“Like, ‘Wow, I went all crazy there. Let me set the record straight.” This not only clears the air, but also shows that you value saving face,” the expert explained. “Bonus: it also makes you more recognizable. People trust those who admit their mistakes more than those who act impeccably.”

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“Think of it this way: correcting yourself is like restarting your reputation. It may be a little tricky at the moment, but it will keep the whole system running smoothly in the long run,” added Dr. Gerharz added. “Mistakes are inevitable, but should we focus more on them? That’s optional.”

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“The next time you’re tempted to speak confidently without really knowing it, ask yourself, ‘Am I trying?’ be rightor am I focused on get it right?’ You feed the ego; the other nourishes the truth,” noted Dr. Gerharz op. “And only one of them will keep you out of the Confidently Incorrect subreddit.”

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We hope you enjoy scrolling through these facepalm-worthy photos, pandas! Keep voting for the ones you find particularly hilarious, and let us know in the comments below what the most ridiculous “completely incorrect” thing you’ve ever heard someone say is. If you want to see more screenshots like this, you can find Bored Panda’s latest article about this group. here!