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Explain it to me like I'm ten

timharford.com

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Re: Explain it to me like I'm ten

#4

Post by rpdillon »

01284a7e wrote: post #2

[flagged]

The blog post isn't directed at 10-year-olds. In fact, you're pulling a phrase from a paragraph that's describing exactly how you should not speak when talking to a 10-year-old.

> The simplest constraint for anyone trying to explain a complex topic is to accept the request to “explain it to me like I’m 10 years old”. What’s packed into that request is, vividly exaggerated, the reminder that what seems obvious to an expert is often incomprehensible to the listener. Technical jargon and fusillades of acronyms are often used to convey an explanation that has been denuded of all the foundations and context that might allow it to make sense.

Re: Explain it to me like I'm ten

#6

Post by 01284a7e »

rpdillon wrote: post #4
01284a7e wrote: post #2

[flagged]

The blog post isn't directed at 10-year-olds. In fact, you're pulling a phrase from a paragraph that's describing exactly how you should not speak when talking to a 10-year-old. > The simplest constraint for anyone trying to explain a complex topic is to accept the request to “explain it to me like I’m 10 years old”. What’s packed into that request is, vividly exaggerated, the reminder that what seems obvious to an e…

[flagged]

Re: Explain it to me like I'm ten

#7

Post by nemosaltat »

ranger_danger wrote: post #3
01284a7e wrote: post #2

[flagged]

I don't think the article itself was intended to be written for a 10-year-old to understand it.

Neither did the author

> If you are reading this column you definitely aren’t a typical 10-year-old, but the image of the bewildered 10-year-old gives the expert an anchor to help them slow down and simplify [0]

[0] TFA

Re: Explain it to me like I'm ten

#9

Post by AnimalMuppet »

01284a7e wrote: post #6
rpdillon wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The blog post isn't directed at 10-year-olds. In fact, you're pulling a phrase from a paragraph that's describing exactly how you should not speak when talking to a 10-year-old. > The simplest constraint for anyone trying to explain a complex topic is to accept the request to “explain it to me like I’m 10 years old”. What’s packed into that request is, vividly exaggerated, the reminder that what seems obvious to an e…

[flagged]

Ten-year-olds don't need advice on how to explain something like the listener is ten.
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