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The trap is that the brain power required to consume the video is very low, due to the pressure to make content which the masses can consume. You can feel wond

The trap is that the brain power required to consume the video is very low, due to the pressure to make content which the masses can consume. You can feel wonderful watching the video on time dilation but there is a zero chance a single viewer of that video actually understands any of the presented equations (or understands the various counter arguments/theories and nuances). You will leave with a shallow understanding of the topic. If you talk to an expert, they will have to work hard to not embarrass you.

Aerroon 2y ago
But I think that's where learning begins. The most-likely point of failure in learning is motivation. Getting somebody interested with bite-sized information can bait a person to go further without them using up much motivation. You're not going to learn every topic you hear about, but you might learn some.
- pompino 2y ago
  That sounds nice, but I don't agree that it is the most-likely point. Anyway, I would argue the point of failure is lack of expert level guidance/mentorship and (sometimes) monetary resources to pursue higher education. Once you've received formal training, you also need someone to bounce ideas off-off, or a community for collaboration etc, etc.
  - Aerroon 2y ago
    I think you're right in a sense. Expert-level guidance is helpful, but I think its main value is filling up the gaps of motivation. Take school as an example. You don't need a math teacher to learn math. Everything you learn in that class is in the textbook. The textbook will even teach you math in a more formal way than a teacher will (at least mine did). But very few people end up learning math from the textbook. It's not because the teacher has better expert knowledge than the book, but because the teacher keeps you engaged in the learning process. A book won't do that. I think a sufficient amount of motivation can overcome a lack of expert guidance and lack of formal training. It might not get you to the exact same result as somebody that did receive all that, but for a lot of things I think it can get you close. I do agree with you on monetary resources. That will kill motivation and limit your ability to get guidance.
I_o_IllI__o_I 2y ago
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zero-sharp 2y ago
I mean, I understand that you can't usually get a deep understanding of a topic through a youtube video. Sometimes when I watch math videos I'm surprised by the density of the information. Things that I studied in college that took practice, exploration, and grappling will get a 30 second explanation. On the other hand, you'll also find lectures from professors and other content made by professionals. I bookmark them and probably never look at them ever again. It's valuable, interesting, but it's too much.
- pompino 2y ago
  For people who like to learn about new stuff, it feeds their addition. IMO the main takeaway from those videos is "Science is cool". The trap is thinking you know something, when in reality you don't. If one watches them already knowing the subject, then I guess its an interesting way to spend your time.

Aerroon 2y ago

But I think that's where learning begins. The most-likely point of failure in learning is motivation. Getting somebody interested with bite-sized information can bait a person to go further without them using up much motivation. You're not going to learn every topic you hear about, but you might learn some.

pompino 2y ago
That sounds nice, but I don't agree that it is the most-likely point. Anyway, I would argue the point of failure is lack of expert level guidance/mentorship and (sometimes) monetary resources to pursue higher education. Once you've received formal training, you also need someone to bounce ideas off-off, or a community for collaboration etc, etc.
- Aerroon 2y ago
  I think you're right in a sense. Expert-level guidance is helpful, but I think its main value is filling up the gaps of motivation. Take school as an example. You don't need a math teacher to learn math. Everything you learn in that class is in the textbook. The textbook will even teach you math in a more formal way than a teacher will (at least mine did). But very few people end up learning math from the textbook. It's not because the teacher has better expert knowledge than the book, but because the teacher keeps you engaged in the learning process. A book won't do that. I think a sufficient amount of motivation can overcome a lack of expert guidance and lack of formal training. It might not get you to the exact same result as somebody that did receive all that, but for a lot of things I think it can get you close. I do agree with you on monetary resources. That will kill motivation and limit your ability to get guidance.

I_o_IllI__o_I 2y ago

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zero-sharp 2y ago

I mean, I understand that you can't usually get a deep understanding of a topic through a youtube video. Sometimes when I watch math videos I'm surprised by the density of the information. Things that I studied in college that took practice, exploration, and grappling will get a 30 second explanation. On the other hand, you'll also find lectures from professors and other content made by professionals. I bookmark them and probably never look at them ever again. It's valuable, interesting, but it's too much.

pompino 2y ago
For people who like to learn about new stuff, it feeds their addition. IMO the main takeaway from those videos is "Science is cool". The trap is thinking you know something, when in reality you don't. If one watches them already knowing the subject, then I guess its an interesting way to spend your time.