Don't be so quick to embrace your own ignorance.

http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/1187-dont-be-so-quick-to-embrace-your-own-ignorance

by ph0rque • 18 years ago

32 13 18 years ago

mattmaroon2• 18 years ago

I think the "for dummies" is both humorous (as much so as a how-to book can be) and descriptive. It's good to embrace your ignorance, that's the only way to cure it.

ph0rque• 18 years ago

I always felt that "for people too busy to spend years" on the subject at hand would be a more apt description.

mattmaroon2• 18 years ago

Too long, and lacking any sort of self-deprecating humor.

felixc• 18 years ago

I always get a laugh out of the "Income Tax For Canadians (for Dummies)" whenever I am at the bookstore. It's just a regional version of a generic book, but the "for Dummies" part is in a pretty small font.

comatose_kid• 18 years ago

This kind of ties in with pg's essay on amateurs.

aside: pretty funny how dhh marks trolls in his comments - a dunce hat with 'troll' written on it. Ouch.

ashu• 18 years ago

Heh, that's very clever. Although one wonders if the trolls feel like they have been vindicated in some way (by being able to draw attention!)

LogicHoleFlaw2• 18 years ago

I rather like the "disemvoweling" used over on BoingBoing. It's a good balance between just deleting trolls and giving them too much attention.

The color fading used on HN is a good technique too.

swombat• 18 years ago

I never bought any of these Dummies books, for a similar reason. I don't think I'm a dummy, or an idiot, and I take it as a personal insult. If you want to sell a book to me, don't call me an idiot.

Yes, I know it's just a joke, but to me, it's a poor, insulting, and, most of all, an idiotic joke. Perhaps the authors think of themselves as idiots. Why should I read them?

I'd much rather buy from a "For smart people" series. It's a shame no one publishes that.

gaius• 18 years ago

http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Celkos-SQL-Smarties-Programming/dp...

It's socially acceptable, even desirable, to lack technical skills. Witness the number of people who will happily proclaim they're no good at maths or whatever. Western culture (presently) doesn't value effort or accomplishment - you're supposed to succeed "just for being you", like a reality TV star, pop idol, etc. History will not reward this decadence.

pongle• 18 years ago

I see a new business plan forming!

LogicHoleFlaw2• 18 years ago

While there are probably plenty of geniuses out there, most of the interesting people I’ve talked to are of average intelligence, but above-average aspiration. Stop believing in the myth of triple-A people as a different kind.

Whenever I start feeling frustrated on some endeavor of mine, I try to pause and remember this principle.

Don't be so quick to embrace your own ignorance.

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