Things Engineers Like: Being Right
Last night, the Baltimore Ravens won Superbowl XLVII as I predicted on this blog, making me a perfect two for two on Superbowl predictions on this blog. This probably means you should continue to read this blog for betting/life advice. Another prediction I made outside of this blog is that there wasn't going to be a Gatorade shower for the winning coach! Las Vegas had odds for most of the colors (Yellow: 13/10, Clear/Water: 3/1, Orange: 3/1 Red: 5/1, Blue 15/2, Green: 10:1.) to be poured on the winning Harbaugh coach but none was not an option (Just like purple even though Tom Coughlin showered in purple last year); I'm sure they would have taken my bet though (and would have regretted it).
But if the San Francisco 49ers won, this wouldn't have been a blog post, most likely. While it's great being perfect, it's possible to be wrong sometimes, even for me (Surprising, I know). While many engineers have often grown up being correct on many things in life like math exams, they can be wrong sometimes (hard to believe). Mistakes are usually significant to them and influence them more than most.
When being incorrect is an anomaly, one tends to remember the individual instances. For people like me, it's difficult to admit and forget my mistakes. It's something I feel I could definitely work on and the majority of the people I know could do the same. It's simple to proclaim that you were correct on something but it takes a better person to admit inaccuracy. I'm sure you've met many people that have trouble declaring errors/misunderstandings especially in arguments; I think this includes 99% of all the engineers I have ever met. While I do remember my faults vividly in most cases, it's not loathsome but for more of a "lesson learned". I remember so I won't repeat the mistake and in turn become a more effective machine; isn't that why history is so important? So we, as a human civilization, can evolve and advance?
So the next time you're in an argument and you know you're flawed, please just accept it and throw in the towel for everyone.
P.S. I'm going to be a better man from now on. Starting now. I have predicted many games throughout the years, especially because I chose UConn (with a ridiculous amounts of bias) 99% of the time. I admit to having terrible grammar when I don't proofread and this blog post is probably a prime example.