...to think that if you have argued against someone about something and then they're proven you categorically wrong...

[SpeedyGonzalez]

...it is far more dignified to admit you're wrong than:

(a) to go silent or change the subject;
(b) to keep on arguing so as to appear consistent?

I see this countless times on MN and in RL and it always makes me rofl! A friend who normally defaults to option (b) (huge ego, bless) was once in this position and willingly made the BIGGEST climb-down I have ever seen. I was because he's the last person I'd ever think would admit he was wrong, but it left me with so much more respect for him than I'd had until then.

There is a psychological term for this; I always forget what it is, but it's basically about how utterly desperate we are to remain consistent and not lose face. Someone clever on MN reminded me of it once...hopefully they'll turn up on this thread and remind me again.

Rofl at laloue's story! What an ass!

MaMight, that's so funny. It's like one of the very few "wifely skills" from the 50s, which still come in handy - Say It Was His Idea. Only your DH is doing it all by himself!

... Have you ever noticed that the people who can't say "I was wrong" are also the ones who never grasp another's point of view (and are therefore incapable of reasoned argument)?