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Willingness to look stupid

danluu.com

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Re: Willingness to look stupid

#61

Post by coldtea »

simonswords82 wrote: post #16
sillysaurusx wrote: post #2

> Going into an Apple store and asking for (and buying) the computer that comes in the smallest box, which I had a good reason to want at the time > The person who helped me, despite being very polite, also clearly thought I was a bozo and kept explaining things like "the size of the box and the size of the computer aren't the same". Of course I knew that, but I didn't want to say something like "I design CPUs. I und…

My guess was that he needed a small box in order to fit it in his bag to take home?

Because when paying $1000+ for a computer the criterium is the box it comes in fits in your bag?

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#62

Post by karol »

This is terrible advice, I would call it a lack of willingness to communicate openly. Also even if you are in the highest echelons of intelligence making yourself look stupid will close access to some opportunities that might propel you forward. Also, over time this behaviour might form a habit that will also influence your personal life.

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#63

Post by jvanderbot »

This is a great premise, and in my experience spot on both in terms of avoiding feelings of being stupid.

But some of the items are more about presenting information in a way that makes people change their actions without feeling stupid.

Like the ones about blood draws. I've seen my wife do this so well, and I honestly never knew it was possible to live so harmoniously with society. People are just so much more helpful and flexible with her and I attributed it to her Dale Carnegie levels of persuasiveness.

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#64

Post by coldtea »

heavenlyblue wrote: post #43
sillysaurusx wrote: post #2

> Going into an Apple store and asking for (and buying) the computer that comes in the smallest box, which I had a good reason to want at the time > The person who helped me, despite being very polite, also clearly thought I was a bozo and kept explaining things like "the size of the box and the size of the computer aren't the same". Of course I knew that, but I didn't want to say something like "I design CPUs. I und…

The funny thing is that "I design CPUs" has nothing to do with being able to pick the best possible laptop for one's needs. It's like saying "I know exactly which car I would like to drive every day because I designed the engine of a Ferrari".

>The funny thing is that "I design CPUs" has nothing to do with being able to pick the best possible laptop for one's needs

No, but it heavily points to that you know basic things, like box-size != laptop size, or what CPUs do, and how to compare them, which is all the author claims.

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#65

Post by mdrzn »

>>"I had to confirm three times that I only wanted coverage for damage I do to others with no coverage for damage to my own vehicle if I'm at fault."

But.. why tho?

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#66

Post by tester34 »

gizmo wrote: post #39
terabytest wrote: post #27

I guess the "stupid question" I'd ask of this article is: why don't you reveal your goals or thought process when challenged after asking a question that might be perceived as stupid? Take the Apple Store example: why not explain the reason why you were asking for a product by the size of its box when they responded by saying that size of the box does not map to size of the product? Being open about your goal would'v…

But why can't you just ask for what you want without people automatically assuming you're stupid? If you care that strangers think you're dumb you have to adjust your behavior a lot and some people would rather just be genuine. Besides, the easiest way to not look stupid is to make up a reason that sounds reasonable (i.e. lying) to get what you want. This is what many (most?) people do. If they want the Apple compute…

>But why can't you just ask for what you want without people automatically assuming you're stupid?

I guess the reality is that huge majority of customers in those shops aren't proficient at technology at all,

so it's incredibly good bet that customer has no idea what s/he's doing.

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#67

Post by spzb »

dTal wrote: post #15
bayindirh wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Studying thermals?

They're clearly talking about the packaging, not the computer case. Without any kind of prior on this person's intelligence, I too would, in the position of the Apple employees, gravitate towards the "moron" theory.

Or certainly the "eccentric" theory.

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#68

Post by ozim »

*Learning things that are hard for me: this is a "feeling stupid" thing and not a "looking stupid" thing, *

When I was younger I found out that things that were hard for me were making me angry. I would say that "this thing is stupid" or "it sucks". Where in reality I was stupid and I sucked.

At some point I realized it was that I simply don't understand something that made me angry and then I started using that emotion as a telltale that I should step back and learn a bit more about the thing.

In the end it evolved that I don't get angry anymore at things. I directly realize that I don't understand something and accept that I have more work to do on understanding it.

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#69

Post by spzb »

123pie123 wrote: post #38

I learnt a long time ago by a director (CEO) of a large UK company on how to assess people, their technical abilities and personality and that is to act stupid/ daft - not just one question, but for periods of time. and see how they respond to you a very effective technique when dealing or interacting with so called Subject Matter Experts. If they're an expert they should be able to explain complex stuff at a High/ m…

If they're not really an expert then they cover up their lack of knowledge and then get promoted into a management position telling the actual subject matter experts how to do their jobs.

Re: Willingness to look stupid

#70

Post by entropyie »

threatofrain wrote: post #37
terabytest wrote: post #27

I guess the "stupid question" I'd ask of this article is: why don't you reveal your goals or thought process when challenged after asking a question that might be perceived as stupid? Take the Apple Store example: why not explain the reason why you were asking for a product by the size of its box when they responded by saying that size of the box does not map to size of the product? Being open about your goal would'v…

But Dan Luu isn't obviously motivated by a desire to antagonize the Apple employee, and neither is he socially or morally obligated in the slightest to explain his consumer intentions during a purchase at the Apple store. And was the encounter really antagonistic? Dan Luu is the one who left looking stupid.

Consider that the shop is unlikely to have the laptops stored or annotated by box size.

Dan was asking the employee to expend considerable additional effort to find the smallest laptop box when he potentially knew the model number, or least had a reason that would justify the extra work. I would have just said "I'm really tight on carry-on space", not to avoid looking stupid, but to assure the employee I wasn't breaking their balls for no reason.

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