Yeu know... I don't think I actually posted whether *I* think I'm condescending or not yet in this thread of all things...
Alright I am.
Actually I'm not... but I may come off as such. I usually break things down into simpler terms with lots of practical examples, exaggerated out of proportion to ensure my point gets across to whoever I'm talking to. If I know them better, my methods change to suit the individual, if it's to a group, it's wide based and dumbed down. I also tend to avoid using my extensive vocabulary (only partially because I can't spell half the words), mostly because if someone has to run for a dictionary, then yeu've already lost their train of thought and now yeu've probably lost their interest, and they've already given up on trying to learn whot yeu were attempting to explain, and all yeu did was make yeurself look pretensious in the process. Great work!
Now, that being said, I do have a bad habit of making bad jokes, puns, and judicious use of sarcasm, though honestly I shouldn't. I'm certain this probably also helps my condescending appearance. And my ego. Like all of them. I had to start getting backups because just one single ego just wasn't enough to hold onto the mass egotistical nature I hold. ...Yeah it's not that bad, but it seems it some days. Anyways.
Another trait that may make me look condescending, and I've been called on several times, though usually 'heartless bitch' or 'arrogant' and several other colourful terms are far more frequently applied. This trait, is that of identifying and correcting problems. If something goes wrong, I identify whot the issue is, verify it's validity with others nearby to make sure I'm correct and not just noting another symptom or unrelated issue, and then I plot a course of action to correct it. The problem is, if something goes wrong, this usually looks like I'm casting blame away from myself "yeu didn't hold onto the rope tightly enough, make sure to get a good grip, or wrap it around yeur arm if yeu have to" often comes off as being heard as "this is all yeur fault, don't screw up again!", which's seriously not whot I mean. I meant just whot I said, this's the issue that occured, this's whot needs to be done to ensure it doesn't occur next time. I think the biggest problem, is that if it was MY fault, it seems kinda silly to tell myself, so I generally just correct my own behaviour without bothering to say it out loud, and have the conversation in my head, so people seem to believe that I'm not judging myself by the same standards I'm holding them to. To be honest, I hold myself to far higher standards than I hold anyone else, so they're technically correct, but not in the way they may think. That being said, this trait has gotten me in trouble many times by people who seriously think it's a condescending attitude, when it's literally just my personal method of problem solving; identify issue, lay out steps to correct issue.
So yeah... I'm actually *NOT* trying to be condescending AT ALL, but I can see how people who aren't privy to the inner workings of my mind may honestly believe so. As I've begun to realize that I come off this way at times, however, I've started to just forewarn people and let them know that I do think in this manner, so that they don't panic when it occurs. They usually do anyway though. Oh well.