Um. Maybe I'm Ignorant.

I have looked at the threads and I think I might have an answer for all of them. However, I might open myself up to scrutiny by responding, and I’m really just here to get smarter. LOL. Four degrees got me nowhere. My question is, if I am truly ignorant about an issue, should I post a question or simply hide the fact that I might not be as intelligent as I make people believe I am? Don’t kick me out. I’m serious. :slight_smile:

I wouldn’t worry. Nobody here is really as intelligent as they think they are. You’ll fit right in.

That was snarky … let’s try again.

Most of us are hear to learn and there are few of us smart enough to lord it over everybody else. Don’t be afraid it post your questions … they’re probably not as ignorant as you think they are.

Wait… By “an answer for all of them”, do you mean a different answer for each, or one single answer for all of them at once? Because if it’s the latter, I hate to break it to you, but life’s more complicated than that.

If you are talking about threads in General Questions, and you think you know the answers to some (all? really?), answer a few. See what happens. It’s just a message board.

If you’re truly knowlegable about a subject and it’s not just your opinion, sure, post an answer. If someone else feels it warrants a modification or clarification, they’ll let you know.

If you have a general question you want an answer to, by all means post it. If it’s obvious you’re reading the replies and communicating back where appropriate it’ll be received even better and people will be more earnest in their efforts.

The vast majority of folks here are informed and considerate and trying to learn more themselves so there’s no reason to hide anything. It’s all good.

If you get it right, they learn something.
If you get it wrong, and somebody corrects you, you learn something.
All to the good.

42

And there’s the Bene Gesserit litany:
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
And I will post on the Straight Dope.

I think this is more of a MPSIMS question, so I’m moving it there.

Good luck.

If you’re genuinely curious and wanting to learn, ask away. You’ll find nothing but friendly help in response.

If you’re ignorant of a subject, and come here to vehemently and violently defend that ignorance to the death rather than allow one single solitary unwelcome fact enter your head, then you’ll have a bit more of an uphill struggle.

If you are ignorant on a subject and don’t post, how do you propose to learn more about it? Curiosity and play are the two greatest strengths we have and if you don’t exercise them they atrophy.
If you aren’t willing to have your answers stand up to scrutiny how will you know that they are valid? No one likes looking dumb, but the only stupid question is the one unasked.

Now, what would a chair look like if our knees bent the other way, like an ostrich?:smiley:

Afraid of appearing less than a perfect genius is a limiting way to go through life. Seriously, why would you want to hide that you don’t know everything, no one knows everything. If you think you are hiding your ignorance, I assure you that your attempts are both transpatent and pathetic to others. Its not a good personality characteristic.

Tl;dr - stop caring if other people think you’re smart. it’s as shallow as caring if other people think you’re pretty, or rich.

Four degrees? I would thing getting the third degree would be off putting.

:smiley:

I thing that too.

Cite?

Regards,
Shodan
PS - :wink:

Ask your questions! As long as you aren’t an ass about it nobody will judge you.

Ironically, Eutychus is one of those wise enough to do the lording, but never does. :slight_smile:

if you have an answer for every question posted on this board the have at it.

when you are done with that feel free to ask any question you like.

See?! You’re not as smart as you think bucko!

Pretty much this. As long as you don’t take it too personal and are open minded, you’ll be fine.