Re:From what I've discovered... (Score 1)

So ask them politely to repeat the question and\or clarify what they mean, correcting people only annoys them. I used to do it a lot myself, it's only since I changed careers and had to force myself to stop did I realise how much of a prick I was being. Now I'm in a job that where if I correct some one, no matter how stupid the question I raise their hackles and can't help them.

Correcting someone is not being a prick. Correcting someone to subtly make them feel smaller under the _guise_ of helpfulness, or to score points while changing the subject, is being a prick. People often try to establish their value by comparison, which leads to a vested interest in seeing others brought down, since that's easier than the hastle of achieving admirable qualities, and achieving admirable qualities doesn't necessarily lead to people admiring you.

Nobody likes a person who takes shots at others, including the person doing it. Since we're surrounded by such people all the time that can make us extremely touchy toward interpreting things as put-downs. But you know if you are really being a prick or not. If you tell yourself "I'm just trying to be helpful" ask yourself if that's really how you feel about it, or whether, deep down, you were being an ass. You'll know.