Retractions and Reversals

[TheNoNamedOne]

Why do you think people have such a hard time with retracting things said or reversing actions when the facts glaringly show they are wrong?

Mainly I think it is because of pride. What do you think the reason is?

[dk]

Example? <words>

[TheNoNamedOne]

I am going to use myself here as the first example.

Yes, I did support the war in Iraq at first. Why? I believed the reports the administration was feeding us. I guess Colin Powel had that trust factor going for him that I had admired. I was wrong. I should have placed more trust in Hans Blix (sp) and his reports saying that Iraq did not have WMDs.

It took me a while to retract my opinion of the war. Why didn't I do it sooner? I guess I just didn't want to face up to being wrong and then be embarrassed with all my friends who were against the war from the beginning saying they had told me so.

In this case, I don't think it was pride -- I think it was just embarrassment that kept me from changing my opinion. But facts, kept gnawing away at my thoughts on the issue and I did finally come around.

I am ashamed of myself for not embracing the facts much sooner. If more Americans had done so, perhaps a lot of lives would be drastically different for the better.

[Boost]

I think if you change your position on a topic, it pretty much goes without saying that you retract previously made statements about that topic. I don't need you to actually say to me that you would like to rescind prior comments. I get it from you switching of sides.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Then why do we even have the word "wrong" or phrase "I was wrong" or "I regret having done or said," in our lexicon? No need for anyone to say to their wife, "I was wrong for those horrible things I said to you. I take them back," when according to your view of it all they have to do is ignore what they had said and commit themselves to not saying things like that again.

Clear and stated retractions and reversals bring closure in definate form. It is a sign of character to be able to self examine past words or actions and comment on them as inappropriate or wrong to let another party understand that you got it and have changed. Merely acting or stating words opposite to what you did prior may not be a sign of retraction, but just a swing in mood that could be fickle and not based on self examination.

[Boost]

Then I suppose it depends on the person who changes their mind/position. If they feel the need to retract previous things said, or apologize for those things, then that is up to them to do so. An apology may be in order if something mean, hurtful, or the likes was said. But if I change my position on a topic, I don't feel the need to apologize for my previous view. Something as simple as, "You know, the more I think about it, the more I am thinking the other way is correct." I'm not going to sit here and say I retract this, this, and this.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Something as simple as, "You know, the more I think about it, the more I am thinking the other way is correct." I'm not going to sit here and say I retract this, this, and this.

Your quote example is a retraction! The word "retraction" doesn't have to necessarily be within the sentence you are saying to impart that you have admitted a previous thought or action was not the correct one.


Like many things, retractions, too, can be subtle. And how subtle or bold the person stating one is, is up to the person.

[Boost]

Sometimes though, people refuse to retract because the person on the other end comes across as being smug and you do not want to give them the satisfaction of the "I told you so." I don't mind reversals with say my wife, because she doesn't hold past wrongs against me, nor does she rub my face in those things.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Sometimes though, people refuse to retract because the person on the other end comes across as being smug and you do not want to give them the satisfaction of the "I told you so." I don't mind reversals with say my wife, because she doesn't hold past wrongs against me, nor does she rub my face in those things.

Ok, fair enough. You have answered the main question in the OP.

Fear/worry/what people will think are reasons some people do not retract.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Ok, fair enough. You have answered the main question in the OP.

Fear/worry/what people will think are reasons some people do not retract.

Edited: And stubboness as well.