<story><title>The Failure Mode of Clever (2010)</title><url>https://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/06/16/the-failure-state-of-clever/amp/?__twitter_impression=true</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>shawn</author><text>Most of the comments seem to divide into two categories: those who have experienced this failure mode, and those attacking the author.&lt;p&gt;As someone who has learned not to do this, here is what the author is saying. You subconsciously care about yourself more than the person you&amp;#x27;re talking to. When you want something from them, that&amp;#x27;s a bad idea.&lt;p&gt;Those two sentences, if internalized, will cure you of trying to be clever. There&amp;#x27;s no room for clever when you have to be effective. At least, not manufactured clever.</text></comment>
<story><title>The Failure Mode of Clever (2010)</title><url>https://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/06/16/the-failure-state-of-clever/amp/?__twitter_impression=true</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>Havoc</author><text>Personally I&amp;#x27;ve noticed I tend towards passive aggressive as &amp;quot;failure mode&amp;quot;. Which plays out as &amp;quot;being difficult&amp;quot;.&lt;p&gt;e.g. Authority figure tells me something is X and I think they&amp;#x27;re wrong. Say as much, but it doesn&amp;#x27;t stick. End result is I go with X but with lots of resistance. (Not helpful for career)&lt;p&gt;I&amp;#x27;d also venture that what the author describes - online interactions are a rather unique ballgame. IRL I know when I&amp;#x27;m the smartest person in the room. Online there is always a real chance that you&amp;#x27;re arguing against a triple PhD that can school you till the end of time without breaking a sweat, but was just being modest &amp;amp; polite.</text></comment>