SMART-arse, wiseacre, or smart-aleck all mean the same, and they all refer to someone who is a smart-ass.
If someone describes you as one, it should not make you smile. A wiseacre is someone irritating because they behave as if they know everything. Don’t get me wrong. It's good to have stock knowledge, but if you flaunt it to the point of using it to belittle anyone, you’re a smart-ass.
Being smart aleck can be a double-edged sword. It may be amusing at times, but it can be pretty annoying and disrespectful.
There’s a big difference between being opinionated and knowing it all. To be all too knowing borders on arrogance. We see this every day. It may just be sparks of it, but still, a smart aleck.
You were listening to a report. You found something off, and you have a suggestion to improve it. You sent a private message to that person. The reply you get is a lecture series. Yes, it’s a series because it's that long. You realize that this person detests suggestions from someone younger or lower in terms of authority for fear of being overshadowed. The open-for-discussion aura is just a front.
Another scenario is being a person with too many hats. It’s good to wear many hats, but don’t act like an expert. Let the experts do their work. You’re there to guide and be the captain of the ship. You’re the captain, but one does not expect you to be at the same time the deck cadet, the oiler, and the bosun. It’s precisely the reason for hiring professionals.
Banking has even evolved. The banking of 30 years ago and further is no longer today’s banking. Your idea of the past might be obsolete now. What has remained constant in banking are trust and confidence.
Learning is knowledge sharing. We learn, and we also impart knowledge. However, we are not limited to experts. We also learn from our children or the younger generation.
We often disregard the younger generation. We become too arrogant to the young since we act like we can do no wrong. I remember my son, and he was still a teen then. He corrected me with my word pronunciation. We had to consult Webster to check who was correct, and he was.
It’s not just that. To understand the new world, learn from the young. Even Math, which is already a fixed science, can change. Although, one plus one will always be two.
Learning is not limited to a lecture type. You learn from everyday interactions with people from all walks of life across all ages. To acknowledge your need to learn is a humbling experience. It makes you a bigger person.
Ergo, stop calling a clever person a smart aleck. He is not. He’s a smart cookie.
