People who are incompetent in a given area often mistake those who are not as arrogant. This misconception is usually based on ignorance and can usually be altered by offering valid information, such as the fact the purpose of preventative maintenance, which is a detail-oriented task, is to PREVENT mechanical failures. The incompetent mechanic gives themselves a big pat on the back for their ability to make repairs after the part has failed, whereas the compentent sort get eight to ten times the amount of service from the same part... and then replace it during a scheduled maintenance period BEFORE it fails.
Referring to such attention-to-detail as 'anal' tells the world the person is not competent with regard to the teaching of Sigmond Freud. Just as referring to Kubelwagens in the Sahara Desert tells how little they know of history and geography.
Ignorance is mankinds normal state. Throughout our lives we strive to convert our ignorance to knowledge by seeking out and processing information, much of which can only be obtained at first-hand; we must actually do the task in order to learn it. Those who are competent in any given field understand this process because they've had to go through it. The most interesting result of doing so is coming to realize how little we know; how much more there is to learn.
But some people already know everything and thus spare themselves the agony of learning. And of course, anyone who might offer a different point of view is merely arrogant. Especially when they are right :-)
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In response to Matt's message I offered an opinion based on more than fifty years of personal, hands-on Volkswagen experience and pointed him toward a source of information he'd not cited. Most saw my message in the spirit it was written. And some did not.
Tough darts.
After leading the horse to water, the rest of the job is up to the horse.
-Bob Hoover