Three degrees short of cantankerousness...

[alexpgp]

There are few things as bitingly bitter as realizing you have said something stupid to an audience that is not likely to realize that you've said something stupid.

Except maybe committing the same faux pas twice within ten minutes.

Comments

[my-coast.livejournal.com]

Oh, I would say, realizing that you have said smth stupid and your audience has got it is more bitter :) According to your idea I would feel a sense of relief if the audience were not to realize the stupidity of my words..

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

I do not agree. If I say something silly, I'd rather have it brought to my attention there and then, because if I admit to being wrong—there and then, directly, with no excuses—then:

(a) it may prevent me from saying something else that's stupid (and probably would have, in this case),

(b) there's not much chance that someone will repeat what I said and, in turn, get called out for being wrong, at which point I will be resented all the more (and maybe even mentioned as the source of the misinformation), and

(c) the admission exerts a kind of "damage control" effect (because so many people out there will never admit to being wrong, or will be very unpleasant about it).

As is so often the case, however, context is key.

Cheers...