Confidence Isn't Competence

What arguing in LinkedIn comment sections taught me about misinformation, arrogance, and why women are so damn tired!

Before I begin, I want to state clearly, this isn’t about man hating. It is rather, the opposite.

It is my attempt to teach.

Apparently a surprising number of men still believe that having a penis comes with a complimentary economics degree.

I was reminded of this over the last week while in LinkedIn comments.

Let me explain.

I had jumped into a conversation about Canada’s energy sector. You know, global investment… carbon pricing… markets… The usual talking points that get thrown around online, especially in Alberta, to promote separatist information.

I was not yelling. I wasn’t insulting anyone… Instead, what I was doing, was apparently something radical in 2026: Bringing truth and FACTS to the threads. Let me tell you guys, within a few minutes the familiar pattern started.

Someone confidently explaining how the oil industry works… while clearly having no idea how global capital investment works. Another explaining that if I “did my research,” I’d realize everything was a conspiracy. Another coming at me explaining economics… incorrectly.. and with absolute confidence of someone who has never even questioned whether THEY might be wrong. Oh and let’s not forget the “Oh honey…” ones… gross!!

If you’ve ever argued in LinkedIn comment section, you know the guy:

He arrives with absolute confidence, a profile picture in a golf shirt, and a headline that includes the words leader, advisor, or strategic thinker. OR in coveralls with a hard hat that says CEO or Oilfield operator.

Within two sentences he’s explaining global energy markets, macroeconomics, and government policy … usually while demonstrating he doesn’t actually understand any of them… are they really CEO’s of Oil and Gas or just that out of touch? And… if the person correcting him happens to be a woman, the tone changes almost immediately. Suddenly, the conversation isn’t about facts anymore. It’s about explaining to HER why she doesn’t understand them…

Women recognize that script instantly. Lord knows, we’ve lived around it every day of our lives in one form or the other. The confidence. The condescension. The assumption that if a woman disagrees, she must not understand.

Women aren’t angry because men disagree with us… in fact, most of us like a good debate. But, where the difference remains is here: Woman are angry because men disagree while explaining things they clearly don’t understand.

Confidence is not the same thing as competence… and yet, somehow, in comment sections everywhere, the two keep getting confused.

The irony? The actual issue being debated … energy policy … is complicated. It involves global capital flows, commodity markets, infrastructure, regulatory timelines, and geopolitical realities.

But, do the conversations stay there? Nope, they always collapse into slogans.

“Liberals killed oil.:

“Carbon tax caused grocery prices.”

“Global conspiracies.”

None of those claims survive five minutes of serious economic analysis… but they sure do some damage and spread quickly.

And those of us correcting them? We get drowned out… or blocked.

At one point, after responding with actual information, I was suddenly unable to reply again in any threads.

The loudest voices could keep going. Some of the comments suggested I used MAID… other’s insisted that once Alberta becomes separate, I should find somewhere else to live for my own safety. Those comments are still up. Apparently, across multiple platforms, bullying and misinformation travels freely, but correcting it needs moderation.

This gets unbelievably frustrating!! Women, in general, don’t get exhausted from a debate… what does exhaust us, is having to prove we’re qualified to be in the debate at all.

Do you know how exhausting it is to have to demonstrate your intelligence before your argument is even considered? To explain basic facts while someone confidently explains your own points back to you, like it was their idea? To be dismissed first and heard second?

Women know that feeling!

We’ve lived it in classrooms, workplaces, politics… and apparently… on social media platforms.

That we are … too emotional… too intense… too loud… too opinionated…and in my opinion, I believe what they really mean is that we are too unwilling to shut up.

And yes, it is exhausting…

But guys, here is the thing about exhaustion, it is not the same thing as silence.

If the people who understand the issues, stop speaking, then what happens?

The loudest voices win… which is what we are seeing now.

The confident misinformation wins….

The bs slogans… win….

And suddenly, complex issues like energy policy, economics, and climate strategy get reduced to bumper stickers say… “I love Alberta Oil”. And if you dare say they are wrong, or ask questions… then you are a traitor. Remember my Project 2025/AB Strategy piece.

Guys, that isn’t debate. That is manipulation. And here’s the truth none of us likes:

Misinformation spreads easily because the people correcting it eventually get tired. Tired of explaining… Tired of being talked down to… Tired of being told they don’t understand.

That exhaustion is the strategy… flood the zone…

If you wear people down long enough, eventually they stop speaking. And, if you are in the comment section, don’t weaponize reporting tools to silence people correcting misinformation.

I’m exhausted… but I will not be silenced. I may be blocked on LinkedIn, but it just means, in my mind, that they couldn’t handle the truth, so they tried to silence me. All that does is make me more determined to get accurate information out, as fast as I can to everyone that I can.

Because guys, confidence has never been PROOF of intelligence, and neither is having a dick.

This piece is an opinion piece, and is one way for me to vent at what I see happening right now. I am not a man hater, in fact I even produced a few… what I detest is arrogance with ignorance. And, an unwilling desire to never be corrected or take accountability. That is probably my biggest pet peeve.

Well now, that was one way to start off the week! Guys, if we are going to hold, we need our brightest, and smartest to start making their knowledge known. You don’t have to fight, you don’t have to argue, but please correct misinformation.

We had this same kind of thing start with Scientist and Doctors. Let’s not let the ideocracy take over the economy as well, after all, look how well that is turning out south of the border.

We’ve now come to the point where I ask for support… or not! Either way, I will be here, connecting the dots to the rot, educating, and getting reliable information out as quickly as possible.

To those of you who have financially supported my work, a GIANT THANK YOU!!!! Your kindness helps to keep this publication free and accessible to everyone.

To all of my followers and subscribers, thank you for listening to an old lady vent today!! Please like, comment and share to keep the conversation going. If you haven’t subscribed, I would really love to add you! Hit that subscribe button.

If you want to get active in helping to keep our democracy… write to your MLA, Smith, MP, PM… write your mayors, write corporations… follow AB Resistance to get updates on TRUE grassroot opposition. You can also volunteer by sending an email to abrvcanada@gmail.com . ABR is non partisan, follow rules, and have a desire to hold government, in general, responsible, no matter who is at the helm. You will receive a form to fill out. Once you fill it out, they will go through what you are able to do, and give you the resources on the best ways to help. One of the absolute best ways to combat it though, is to call it out… repeatedly… loudly… and often! Don’t fight back to the haters and ignore the comments that attack. They lost the debate the second they have nothing more to argue with but hate. GET LOUD ALBERTA PROFESSIONALS AND CITIZENS. We don’t all have time to do it all day everyday, but if enough of us care to actively call it out, then it isn’t the giant task it is now. I need your help please!!! Get active!! Have a great day guys!!