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There's a bit of a disconnect between the the purported theme of this article, being okay looking stupid, and the actual contents, which is just a catalogue of

by thom 5y ago

There's a bit of a disconnect between the the purported theme of this article, being okay looking stupid, and the actual contents, which is just a catalogue of times other people were stupid, posted on the internet so everyone knows the author is clever. Being willing to look stupid involves actually being able to deal with mistakes and failure, with actually _feeling_ stupid sometimes. Just listing a bunch of great decisions you made that other people thought were stupid seems less life-changing to me.

runeks 5y ago
But the article is specifically about looking stupid. The point being, as I understand it, that you should avoid being stupid but not looking stupid.
- thom 5y ago
  The title is about looking stupid, but that's not what the author is communicating, to me or many others in the comments here. At no point did the author ever risk any ego, because they knew they were right every time, and no morons were going to convince them otherwise. Willingness to look stupid isn't just about ignoring other people's opinions, it's about actually being willing to find out you _are_ stupid sometimes. Nobody can avoid being stupid their whole lives, whatever cherry picked lists we might publish on our blogs. You are either willing to suffer the risk of people seeing that, and learning something, or you can hide from that risk. The author clearly has a good track record of hiding from that risk, because everything they've ever done has turned out to be correct. But that seems deeply uninteresting as a life lesson. Much more important is what happens when you try something, and the people telling you you're stupid are _right_. How you and your ego handle that is an important part of your character. Maybe that's a subtle distinction, but I think it's important.
cycomanic 5y ago
Thanks you said this much better than I did a bit further up. The whole post smacks a bit of arrogance to me, even though the advice is good.
- barrenko 5y ago
  Why is it arrogant?
  - melenaboija 5y ago
    "listing a bunch of great decisions you made that other people thought were stupid"
  - dkdbejwi383 5y ago
    "People think I'm stupid but it is actually they who are stupid and unable to comprehend my genius intellect"
    - focus2020 5y ago
      Probably this is true but how to say this without being judged as arrogant.
amadeuspagel 5y ago
That feels unfair. Part of the point of the article is that though looking stupid has a cost, it's sometimes worth it, for example, to ask an important question or to share an interesting idea, but maybe not just to prove that you're okay with looking stupid.

by thom 5y ago

runeks 5y ago

But the article is specifically about looking stupid. The point being, as I understand it, that you should avoid being stupid but not looking stupid.

thom 5y ago
The title is about looking stupid, but that's not what the author is communicating, to me or many others in the comments here. At no point did the author ever risk any ego, because they knew they were right every time, and no morons were going to convince them otherwise. Willingness to look stupid isn't just about ignoring other people's opinions, it's about actually being willing to find out you _are_ stupid sometimes. Nobody can avoid being stupid their whole lives, whatever cherry picked lists we might publish on our blogs. You are either willing to suffer the risk of people seeing that, and learning something, or you can hide from that risk. The author clearly has a good track record of hiding from that risk, because everything they've ever done has turned out to be correct. But that seems deeply uninteresting as a life lesson. Much more important is what happens when you try something, and the people telling you you're stupid are _right_. How you and your ego handle that is an important part of your character. Maybe that's a subtle distinction, but I think it's important.

cycomanic 5y ago

Thanks you said this much better than I did a bit further up. The whole post smacks a bit of arrogance to me, even though the advice is good.

barrenko 5y ago
Why is it arrogant?
- melenaboija 5y ago
  "listing a bunch of great decisions you made that other people thought were stupid"
- dkdbejwi383 5y ago
  "People think I'm stupid but it is actually they who are stupid and unable to comprehend my genius intellect"
  - focus2020 5y ago
    Probably this is true but how to say this without being judged as arrogant.

amadeuspagel 5y ago

That feels unfair. Part of the point of the article is that though looking stupid has a cost, it's sometimes worth it, for example, to ask an important question or to share an interesting idea, but maybe not just to prove that you're okay with looking stupid.