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Well, I would expect a professor to not waste their time experimenting to learn something that's already been documented. So yes, there are things a professor s
by fluoridation 4y ago
Well, I would expect a professor to not waste their time experimenting to learn something that's already been documented. So yes, there are things a professor should be embarrassed for not knowing.
- shadowgovt 4y agoYou hit upon an interesting meta-problem, which is: if something is already documented, how do you know? In general, the ability to search human knowledge (especially in deeply technical fields) has vastly outstripped the generation of such knowledge.
- birdyrooster 4y agoBecause you have experience enough to know what is and isn’t documented. If you don’t have enough experience, you probably shouldn’t be publishing your opinions.
- shadowgovt 4y agoThat approach sure would diminish the amount of material on the internet, I can tell you that. ;)
- kragen 4y agoIf you don't publish your wrong opinions, nobody will tell you they're wrong, and you'll stay ignorant. Ignorance is nothing to be ashamed of, but it's also not something you should protect like a precious jewel!
- kragen 4y agoThere are times when a month in the lab will save you an afternoon in the library, yes. But there are also times when a month in the library will save you an afternoon in the lab. I categorically deny that anyone should ever be embarrassed for not knowing anything. For attempting plans without bothering to find out, maybe. Or for claiming to know things they don't. But not for the ignorance itself.
- fluoridation 4y agoIt seems you're implying that no knowledge is required to be a professor, only a particular methodology. I guess we have different expectations of what a professor is.