I Much Prefer Honest Ignorants To Lying Experts

Ignorance is something we can all do something about

Photo by Quino Al

Whenever we learn a technical skill, the following pattern normally appears: awe at what is possible, despair at the difficulty of mastery, impostor syndrome once we’re supposed to know what we’re doing. Most of these skills, regardless of the field, require some intelligence from the learner’s side, which often makes us feel good about ourselves. Later, we will inevitably discover just how many other people are also proficient in them, many of them much more knowledgeable than we are.

Learning is an incredibly humbling experience. Thanks to the current information flow, we can witness the vastness of our ignorance whenever we dare to look. We can also access materials once reserved for a few to increase our knowledge and wisdom. As is often the case, the more we know, the more we know we don’t know. Because of the network possibilities of the connected world, we can express our vulnerability more freely and safely than ever before. We don’t have to pretend. Mostly, we cannot pretend: anyone can reveal unfounded ignorance with a couple of precise clicks and an incisive comment.

The most positive aspect about being public about our ignorance or at least the limits of our knowledge is that it is infectious. Suddenly, it is okay…