What It Means to Be Condescending
If you've ever had the doubt in your mind, get it sorted right now: to be labelled "condescending" is a bad thing. It is not a compliment. Do not be a condescending person. Avoid being condescending like it's the plague.
Since knowledge is power, let's try to sort out the concept of what it is to be condescending. Down the road, you will be thanking yourself you took the time to read this article. Without further ado...
Are you sometimes confused by the actual meaning of the word?
Symptoms of a Condescending Person
He or she thinks too much of his or her own intelligence
| He or she thinks too little of the intelligence of others around him or her
| He or she feels the need to correct others all the time
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|---|---|---|
He or she cannot accept criticism
| He or she is smug
| He or she is arrogant
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He or she believes his or her opinion on a thing is something the world cannot afford to miss
| He or she tries to give the impression of being confident
| He or she is dealing with insecurities
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He or she is a show off
| He or she think of himself or herself as being classy, while the truth is atually quite the opposite
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The Look of Someone Who's Condescending
The Condescending Person Is Ignorant
The condescending person doesn't know much of the world around him or her. The lack of knowledge and street-smartness is what makes him or her behave in an arrogant way.
An Empty Vessel Making Loads of Noise
It often happens that the person who knows the least about a thing talks the most about it. This person is considered a time waster.
Despised
Not surprisingly, condescending people are absolutely hated. Who ever likes to be treated as being inferior by another?
They Make People Move Away
Also not surprisingly, over time, people move away from someone who behaves in a patronizing manner. Such behaviour is repugnant and very tiresome to handle.
People Criticize Them Behind Their Back
Since the condescending person hardly ever lets anyone talk in his or her presence, it is only a matter of time before there is a whole lot of stuff being discusses about him or her behind his or her back.
Being Condescending Is Bad PR
If you want to be popular and have friends and do well in business at the same time, it makes sense to be humble. Actually, it doesn't hurt to be humble.
Humble people are easy to move with. As a result, they are loved. On the other hand, since condescending people are an absolute pain to deal with, no one, if ever, takes them seriously.
Lacking Class
The really cool people in the world are chilled-out people who don't have major attitude issues. They are never haughty.
A classy person is always someone who doesn't look down on others.The classy person encourages. Condescending people say things that are unclassy.
Sure-Fire Way to Destroy Relationships
Isn't this obvious? Whether within the family, in friendships, or in a situation of romance, being condescending is a big turn off. Equality is a very important quality in almost any type of relationship, and the worst enemy of it can be the tendency to feel superior to another person.
Condescend and Destroy!
How to Not Be Condescending
It is possible to avoid being condescending by making a conscious choice to spend time each day life to cultivate certain other qualities, which are its antithesis, within oneself.
- Humility
- A positive mindset
- Non-judgmentalism
- A thick skin to take criticism
- A sense of self-esteem
- A love of listening to others
- A love of people in general
- A belief in the inherent equality of all people regardless of ethnicity, colour, religion, country, or sexual orientation
Questions & Answers
Comments
AUTHORIt's wrong to talk down to others...
So it's wrong to try to portray yourself as being confident? But lacking confidence is also wrong. I'm confused...
- AUTHOR
Thank you for reading, Setank Setunk. You are broadening my perspective of what it means to be condescending. I will, without doubt, update this hub as I learn more.
This is an interesting article, but I understand what it means, it's not that complicated.
Your idea that people who know the least about something talk about it the most is incorrect, as is your assertion that all perpetrators of condescension are ignorant.
Also condescension depends upon the interpretation of the "victim".
Often times the qualities you mention at the end of your article are absent in the people who believe others are condescending.
I would like to here more from you. I think your touching on something bigger than "Talking down to people". Nice Article.
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