I've always found people's general perception of arrogance to be interesting. Here are some definitions:
arrogant exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance in an overbearing manner
arrogance a feeling or an impression of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or presumptuous claims
arrogant 1. Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance. 2. Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others.
arrogance The state or quality of being arrogant; overbearing pride.
overbearing 1 a : tending to overwhelm : OVERPOWERING b : decisively important : DOMINANT
overbearing 1. Domineering in manner; arrogant: an overbearing person. See Synonyms at
dictatorial. 2. Overwhelming in power or significance; predominant.
presumptuous overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy) : taking liberties
presumptuous Going beyond what is right or proper; excessively forward
So... was my post really overwhelming in power or significance, or domineering, or assuming presumptuous superiority over others? Did I exaggerate my worth or importance overwhemingly? Did I go beyond what is right or proper?
The way I see it, if I'm correct in my claim (not exaggerating), and I didn't assume superiority over other people, then I'm just
confident, not arrogant.
Although, to be honest, I never really saw the "improper" part of the definition of arrogance, before. I always thought of arrogance as simply claiming what isn't true. So which part am I guilty of to be arrogant?
I think there is no shame in knowing my skill and being confident in it. Please understand that I'm asking serious questions here--I've been accused of arrogance more than once and I don't get how I can be that if I'm accurate in my claims.
If someone who can run a four-minute mile tells you he can run a four-minute mile, what's arrogant about that? It's a simple assessment of his abilities. Lets say he runs a mile and someone tells him it took 12 minutes. What's so arrogant for this athlete to say that the stopwatch must be broken or there must have been a timing mistake, because he knows it was much closer to four minutes?