“The world is filled with people who didn’t know jack not too long ago about whatever it is that they’re doing and are now highly regarded in their fields. [...] If there’s something you don’t currently know how to do, please decide not to be a dummy or an idiot. You’re as smart as you always were, you’re just looking to learn something new.”
Absolutely correct. Ignorance — lacking information — is not synonymous with stupidity, or lacking intelligence. Too often people equate the two. Ignorance is easily remedied with a little education.
I see this all the time at work. “Oh, I’m stupid with computers,” people say. “I’m just dumb.” Wrong. You just don’t know how it works, and that’s perfectly fine.
I have no idea how my car works, but that doesn’t make me stupid. It kills me to hear people talk about themselves this way. Like Richard said, “You’re as smart as you always were, you’re just looking to learn something new.”
[Via Shawn Blanc]
