Being Wrong Isn’t the Problem—Refusing to Admit It Is

Recently, I heard a story on the radio about a DJ who received a complaint from a listener. The DJ had shared a story about a woman named Sharon, but the listener insisted she had actually said "Karen." She was upset because she felt that using "Karen" as a stereotype was unfair to people who share the name.

To clear up the misunderstanding, the DJ played back the audio clip, and sure enough, it confirmed that she had said "Sharon," not "Karen." However, instead of accepting the evidence, the listener doubled down, claiming the recording had been manipulated. The DJ refused to apologize, stating that while she has no problem admitting fault when necessary, she wouldn't apologize for something she hadn't done.

This situation made me think about how difficult it is for some people to admit when they’re wrong—even when the facts are undeniable. We’ve all encountered someone who refuses to acknowledge their mistakes, sometimes even rewriting history in their minds to avoid admitting fault. It’s frustrating, but if we’re honest, we’ve all been guilty of this behavior at some point.

I do feel bad for people named Karen. It’s unfortunate that society has turned their name into a label for difficult women. These individuals had no say in what they were named, yet they now face an unfair stigma. I understand why the listener was sensitive about it. But when the facts clearly showed that the DJ never even said "Karen," why was it so hard for her to accept that she was wrong?

Admitting you’re wrong takes courage. It means setting aside your ego and embracing humility. Scientists do this all the time—when a hypothesis is tested and proven incorrect, they revise their understanding rather than stubbornly clinging to their original belief. If they can do it in the pursuit of truth, why can’t we?

As I’ve grown older, read more books, and gained more life experience, I’ve realized how much I don’t know. The more you learn, the more you recognize the limits of your own knowledge. I’ve had beliefs challenged by well-supported evidence that I couldn’t ignore. Instead of resisting, I’ve learned to be more open-minded.

A great example of this is how different news sources report the same event. If you compare coverage from CNN and Fox News, it sometimes feels like they’re describing two entirely different situations. The truth is often somewhere in the middle, and keeping an open mind helps us see a fuller picture.

If I could speak to the listener who insisted the DJ said "Karen," I’d tell her that admitting you’re wrong can be incredibly liberating. When you align with the truth, you don’t have to carry the burden of defending something false. I don’t enjoy being around people who always insist they’re right—either they’re lying, or they’re unaware of their own ignorance.

At the end of the day, none of us knows everything. But if we can embrace the idea that being wrong isn’t a failure, but an opportunity to grow, we’ll all be better for it.