what's the line between cocky and confident?

Question

im very confident person by nature. but some of my friends call me cocky. i don't see my self as cocky at all. i would like to describe myself as very humble and down to earth. yet confident. or are they just jealous?

Answer 1

Confident is confident. Cocky is confident with an edge, or an attitude. It's good to be confident, but people usually don't like others who are cocky.

Answer 2

I used to work on a college campus and came across a lot of cocky guys. I would say what made them appear cocky (and, hence, insecure) is that they never looked people in the eye when they were talking, and when I addressed them (I was the bookstore manager), they would answer very loudly, as if they were putting on a show for the other guys in the room (their friends). Half the time, they were sarcastic and rude. I could tell they thought they seemed confident, but man it was so off-putting. I couldn't stand those types of boys, and if you act like that at all, I would lean toward saying you are cocky and not confident.

If you're confident, I would say you don't act desperate, you treat people with respect, you aren't competitive with your friends, you don't try to hit on the girls they like, and you are strong enough to be yourself. Laugh at what you think is funny no matter who is around, be nice and open toward people even if they aren't cool. That is confidence to me.

Answer 3

Confidence is something you feel when you know you are competent. ********* is something other people see because you are not sure of your competence and if you can get them to believe it then it must be true. So, are you really confident or cocky? Cause confident people usually don't care how others perceive their confidence. Just a thought.

Answer 4

While both cocky and confident are ways of presenting yourself as together and in control, being cocky dos it without regard for the comfort or feelings of others.
If you don't want to be seen as cocky, try to maintain your self confidence while avoiding making others feel inferior.

Answer 5

Cocky always equates to the mask of insecurity. People who are cocky, prjoect themselves, they self promote, which is just broadcasting insecurity. Its so obvious to others around them. They have to raise themselves one rung above everyone else in attempts to look better, but they just look foolish. Cocky people are nothing but poseurs, with low self esteem. Its all in their walk and how they talk. They take themselves WAY to serious. In life, when a person tells you how great they are, what they are really saying is what they are not feeling. Confident people have nothing to prove, and as a result, dont act out in defense the way cocky people do. If many people see you as cocky, more likely then not, you are insecure, and very concerned how people view you, sorry, but its ALWAYS a sign!! Most people who are tagged as cocky, dont see themselves as cocky either!!

Answer 6

it is the way you present yourself. if you are likable by friends, your conficence will be something that your friends are envy of and they look up to you. but if cos of your confidence, you always talk abt things being so easily done and sort and it makes people feel inferior and they dislike you cos you always put yourself so high and they will then call you cocky. in order to be confident but yet not cocky, put yourself in other people's shoes. think in their position. use your confident and abilities to help your friends around and when you help them, assist with true heart, eventually they will think of you differently. maybe it is just that they have not seen the real you. try it out. cheers.:)

Answer 7

Maybe they are jealous; I doubt it.

Cocky is being confident but you you brag about how you can do something as if your like unstopable.

Confidence is being sure you can do it but just that. You dont go saying that no matter what you can do it.

When your cocky you tend to underestimate others and be self centered or concieted.

Answer 8

I think people cross the line from confidence to ********* when they start to acknowledge that they are in fact "confident." If you are a confident person, then you don't need to constantly remind people, and/or yourself, that you ARE indeed confident by saying it and doing things that promote it.

Answer 9

I have the same problem. I think Cocky is bragging, where as confidence is knowing. I think when you are not cocky, but people accuse you of it, it is because they are insecure and do not understand.

Answer 10

Confident is someone that just lives their life without having to boast about anything. Cocky is someone that's all talk, with nothing to back it up...I can't stand people like that.