[psudmant]

To be sure... the main message here is don't be a jerk, treat people w/ respect, and try to be humble...EVEN if you're right and someone else is wrong! These aren't tough principles and they're not exclusive to academia - they are universal.

[katzgrau]

I think that the real message is that a little political finesse (some call "social IQ") goes a long way, and the lack of it can hold you back.

If you're thinking to yourself, "but I was never the most socially capable," that's OK, here are some instructions for your logical-and-not-naturally-social brain to execute: Try to be positive with others, give credit where it's due (or will encourage someone else), withold criticism unless the situation truly calls for it. We all want to feel good about ourselves - a simple and easy way to be politically savvy is to be a source of positivity for others.

[taneq]

To take it further, even if you're clearly right in your own frame of reference you still need to recognize that the other person may also be right in theirs. Unless you fully understand someone's frame of reference you don't really know if they're right or not.

[Joof]

Correct! Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to the second half. Maybe it's a bit more that's necessary.