I have no idea what I'm doing
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I have no idea what I'm doing
1–10 of 79 posts
Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#2Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#3e.g. I don't know what I'm doing, but then neither does anyone else but I am stating it so therefore I'm actually better than them and I have impostor syndrome so that actually makes me better at what I do than you, and everyone who says they know what they're doing suffers from the Dunning–Kruger effect, etc.
This has become a bit of a meme -- the whole "I'm better because I claim to be worse" bit.
Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#4Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#5This sort of post seems to do well on HN, so to offer a bit of criticism I'd like to posit that often they seem to be a thin veneer over humble bragging. e.g. I don't know what I'm doing, but then neither does anyone else but I am stating it so therefore I'm actually better than them and I have impostor syndrome so that actually makes me better at what I do than you, and everyone who says they know what they're doing…
I get where you are coming from, but I think the best point in this somewhat rambly essay is that it is fine to come out and talk about how to deal with these odd mental effects, especially when they are keeping us from getting work done.
Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#6Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#7This sort of post seems to do well on HN, so to offer a bit of criticism I'd like to posit that often they seem to be a thin veneer over humble bragging. e.g. I don't know what I'm doing, but then neither does anyone else but I am stating it so therefore I'm actually better than them and I have impostor syndrome so that actually makes me better at what I do than you, and everyone who says they know what they're doing…
So does this mean that we need to come full circle and become worse and being better due to claiming to feel worse? I get where you are coming from, but I think the best point in this somewhat rambly essay is that it is fine to come out and talk about how to deal with these odd mental effects, especially when they are keeping us from getting work done.
Usually when people begin kicking up a dust, the solution is to stop kicking– in this case I think that means to avoid making claims, and focus instead on doing great work!
Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#8This sort of post seems to do well on HN, so to offer a bit of criticism I'd like to posit that often they seem to be a thin veneer over humble bragging. e.g. I don't know what I'm doing, but then neither does anyone else but I am stating it so therefore I'm actually better than them and I have impostor syndrome so that actually makes me better at what I do than you, and everyone who says they know what they're doing…
So does this mean that we need to come full circle and become worse and being better due to claiming to feel worse? I get where you are coming from, but I think the best point in this somewhat rambly essay is that it is fine to come out and talk about how to deal with these odd mental effects, especially when they are keeping us from getting work done.
When they are sincere, sure. But increasingly they are becoming like the thin girl forever talking about how she feels fat (or, I suppose, the not thin girl declaring that anyone thinner is anorexic). The Dunning–Kruger thing is referenced so frequently on here and other technology sites that it is like the attempt at a great equalizer: People aren't better than me, and the only way they can think they are is the Dunning–Kruger effect.
It is some sort of race to the bottom / lowest common denominator equalization thing. I'm not saying that the feeling of inadequacy at times isn't real, but it is becoming a badge and measure of superiority.
Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#9He remarks in the talk about Lamarck having an incorrect theory of "inheritance of acquired characteristics." From what I understand, recent experiments have actually given some evidence to his theory. I can't remember the particular studies though.
Re: I have no idea what I'm doing
#10This sort of post seems to do well on HN, so to offer a bit of criticism I'd like to posit that often they seem to be a thin veneer over humble bragging. e.g. I don't know what I'm doing, but then neither does anyone else but I am stating it so therefore I'm actually better than them and I have impostor syndrome so that actually makes me better at what I do than you, and everyone who says they know what they're doing…