More importantly, being aware of that ignorance, and as such not proffering opinions about subjects you do not have a grasp on.

I ask potentially stupid questions professionally, at least as part of my job, and it doesn't half take some getting used to to get past the fear of looking like an idiot.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

People should realise it’s ok not to know everything, and not having an opinion on most things is absolutely fine

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:08 am

More importantly, being aware of that ignorance, and as such not proffering opinions about subjects you do not have a grasp on.

I ask potentially stupid questions professionally, at least as part of my job, and it doesn't half take some getting used to to get past the fear of looking like an idiot.

First thing I say to customers in training or at a demonstration
“There’s no such thing as a stupid question”

Some like to challenge that though

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 11:19 am

“There’s no such thing as a stupid question”

Just stupid answers.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:08 am

More importantly, being aware of that ignorance, and as such not proffering opinions about subjects you do not have a grasp on.

I ask potentially stupid questions professionally, at least as part of my job, and it doesn't half take some getting used to to get past the fear of looking like an idiot.

A useful reminder to us all

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 11:12 am

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

People should realise it’s ok not to know everything, and not having an opinion on most things is absolutely fine

"Be reyt" - Leonid Toptunov

The stuff we don't know is the most fascinating stuff.

Part of he art of research is forgetting what you think you know and following the evidence. It is what I love about what I do, and why the accepted History of today is light years ahead of what we were taught in schools… as a popular TV programme promised

The truth is (usually) out there.

But finding it is an art.

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 11:12 am

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

People should realise it’s ok not to know everything, and not having an opinion on most things is absolutely fine

You've obviously not met my wife.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:08 am

More importantly, being aware of that ignorance, and as such not proffering opinions about subjects you do not have a grasp on.

I ask potentially stupid questions professionally, at least as part of my job, and it doesn't half take some getting used to to get past the fear of looking like an idiot.

You get that a lot in the IT industry.

Some take pleasure in scoffing at your lack of knowledge and declare that it's not their job to educate you.

Others take the same question and gain pleasure in sharing their knowledge, and feeling good that they've helped somebody. And of course the whole team benefits because the overall knowledge level increased.

In summary, some people are just ****holes

Croydon Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 4:42 pm

You get that a lot in the IT industry.

Some take pleasure in scoffing at your lack of knowledge and declare that it's not their job to educate you.

Others take the same question and gain pleasure in sharing their knowledge, and feeling good that they've helped somebody. And of course the whole team benefits because the overall knowledge level increased.

In summary, some people are just ****holes

I'm the poor sod that writes the user guides

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 5:01 pm

I'm the poor sod that writes the user guides

Then it IS your job to educate people

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 5:01 pm

I'm the poor sod that writes the user guides

So, is it you who writes " don't put your fingers in the toaster when it's on" & " avoid drinking WD40 it may cause stomach upsets " ?

People are weirded out when I don’t HAVE an opinion about something. Like they expect everyone to have nailed their colors to the mast. Or sometimes your opinion is so flexible that you change it. “Aha! But you said you were all for recycling last month!” “Well now I’ve read something else about it and changed my mind”

The Lost Art of Doff Capping.

As a wise man once said "better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and leave no doubt"

Nonayforever wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 12, 2024 7:14 pm

So, is it you who writes " don't put your fingers in the toaster when it's on" & " avoid drinking WD40 it may cause stomach upsets " ?

That, but for mainframes

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 15, 2024 9:47 am

That, but for mainframes

are mainframes still a thing? (my chance to ask a stupid question!)

Rick_Muller wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:12 am

are mainframes still a thing? (my chance to ask a stupid question!)

Yup, most of the world relies on them still. Banks, travel, social security and pensions, we make the world go round, quietly and reliably

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 17, 2024 8:58 am

Yup, most of the world relies on them still. Banks, travel, social security and pensions, we make the world go round, quietly and reliably

It just surprised me that the term still exists. I "grew up" in the days of AS400 (with lots of dumb terminals) when Windows 3.11 was a thing and in it's infancy, and these days I work with hyperconverged infrastructure that could be considered "mainframe like" when you consider I deploy a VDI solution using it, but after googling the terms they are still extremely distinct in their architecture aren't they!

Rick_Muller wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 17, 2024 9:22 am

It just surprised me that the term still exists. I "grew up" in the days of AS400 (with lots of dumb terminals) when Windows 3.11 was a thing and in it's infancy, and these days I work with hyperconverged infrastructure that could be considered "mainframe like" when you consider I deploy a VDI solution using it, but after googling the terms they are still extremely distinct in their architecture aren't they!

When it comes to the more technical side, i am still very much a layman. I'm the guy that presents the information so that end users can adopt and run with it, and ensure they are aware of features / bugs etc as necessary.

Sometimes i very much feel like Neo when he first learns about the matrix so i've learned to pick and choose which meetings i need to attend these days