Over Talking And Citing Sources In a Conversation
Have you ever noticed that during conversations, you sometimes feel compelled to cite the source of the facts you share, resulting in endless babbling on your part? It's as if simply being clear and concise, and leaving people with an impression that you’re an interesting person isn't enough. Your brain and your mouth work against each other resulting in exaggerated verbosity. For some reason, you find yourself tacking on an extra sentence or two in your conversation to give proper credit for the information you share, only to ramble on. When you realize the mistake you make in your over-talking, you then start worrying that the person you're talking to might see you as incoherent or foolish, causing you to ramble on some more to cover up your feelings of foolishness.
Many of us can relate to this experience. We might say things like:
"I learned from a newsletter by the American Psychological Institute, which I was reading during my morning bathroom routine, that during the final 7 minutes of neural activity before death, one experiences memories in a dreamlike pattern."
Or,
"Othello is an intriguing character who exudes confidence in military and leadership matters but displays social insecurity. I came across this insight during a commercial break on a baseball telecast, in a documentary about the Royal Shakespeare Company."
So, why do we feel compelled to cite sources when sharing information? Why ruin a good conversation and not let people believe you’re an intellectual? Why can't we simply share what we know and take pride in the fact that we were able to engage someone with an interesting, albeit possibly inconsequential, piece of knowledge without feeling the need to credit others for it?
The truth is, there are several reasons behind this tendency. At the risk of me talking excessively, let's explore them further.
First and foremost, in today's world of fake news and rampant misinformation, we are acutely aware of the importance of accuracy and trustworthiness. We want to ensure that the information we share is reputable and supported by credible sources. With the abundance of erroneous information circulating, it's all too easy to mistake clickbait articles for genuine ones and inadvertently share misleading content. We use to live in a society when there were consequences for gullibility. We used to be skeptical of that cookie truck driver who made deliveries to our workplace emotionally fueled by myths and misconceptions. Now, that guy has become one of our greatest fact checking resources. With proper citation of our sources, we can provide evidence to support our claims and make it easier for others to verify the information themselves.
Secondly, we seek to avoid coming across as gullible or misinformed. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing everything we read online or hear from others without fact-checking. By citing references , we indirectly communicate, "I'm not making this up; someone else said it too." It can be embarrassing to share false information and be corrected, so citing sources helps mitigate that risk. How many times have you come across a fake social media post about a celebrity who passed away, only to find out they were alive and well…after telling a bunch of people at work about the tragic loss? Building media literacy allows us to maintain a personal standard for ourselves and develop critical thinking, so we aren’t misled. We can take comfort in knowing we’ve done our best to stay accurately informed.
Thirdly, there is an inherent need to prove ourselves right. We all desire validation and acceptance from others. By citing sources, we demonstrate our intelligence and knowledge. It's a way of saying, "I'm not just making this up; I have a credible source backing me up." This tendency is particularly prevalent among individuals with low self-esteem, as they may feel the constant need to prove themselves to others and find reassurance from sharing that extra bit of information and excessive loquacity.
Lastly, citing sources allows us to control the message and present ourselves in a favorable light. By referencing our sources, we indirectly convey that we are well-read, informed individuals who keep up with current events and trends. It can be a means of positioning ourselves as experts in a particular field or topic.
In the end, the urge to cite sources when sharing information stems from various motivations. It goes beyond merely giving credit to others; it encompasses demonstrating our credibility and knowledge, avoiding embarrassment, and seeking validation. By understanding these underlying motivations, we can gain insight into why we feel compelled to do so and perhaps even learn to let go of the constant need to prove ourselves to others.
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***The contents of this website is satirical, meant to be entertainment and should not be taken as professional advise.***
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