Put your finger on your wrist.

Can you feel your pulse?

If yes…

…you’re arrogant.

If no…

…stop reading and have a friend drive you to the hospital.

Arrogant used to mean:

feelings of undeserved importance because of overbearing pride…

Now it basically means:

expressing opinions that you believe are correct…

Any staunchly held opinion is ‘arrogant’ in American culture.

I’m not happy about this definition.

But I’m stuck with it.

…It would be arrogant to suggest it’s wrong.

Some other arrogant statements:

• “Hip Hop music sucks.”
• “Women make better mothers than men.”
• “People get fat when they eat too much.”
• “Christianity is superior to other religions.”
• “John Branyan is an excellent writer.”

These are definitive statements.

We hate definitive statements.

Except when they echo our own opinions.

Then it’s not arrogance.

…It’s just ‘being correct’.

Which makes it hard to see arrogance in ourselves.

For instance, when I say:

Indiana is the best State in the USA.

Residents of other States may disagree.

Call me narrow minded, irrational,

…and arrogant.

Say stuff like:

‘Best State’ it totally arbitrary! It’s just your opinion! Can’t be that Indiana is the best!

Are you telling me that I’m wrong?

And you’re right?

Man…

…what an arrogant thing to say.

I’m not criticizing!

I’m guilty too.

Everyone is arrogant.

Do you disagree?

…guess what I’m going to say to that.