How did you become so knowledgeable?

[vayntraubinator]

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About a few months ago I went to find my friend on the fourth floor of our school's library. This was the language floor and I stumbled on this book with an interesting leather binding. Opening it up and there's just all this German and I just wonder ....wtf? I know none of this!
It didn't quite sink in at the moment but afterwards I discussed this with a few friends and I can't help but feel like my knowledge is inconsequential. And although this, college, is meant to be the best years of our lives there's a desire to do everything somehow to resolve this limitation. Yet, before I go trying to discover the whole world it's just simply impossible. I guess I find myself spread thin because I want to learn and unlock as much as I can. For example, I can study a 5 year window in Chinese History or an interesting aspect of neuroscience, maybe mirror neurons lets say, to a depth that will bring me satisfaction. But in that pursuit I will have used my time and still not have accomplished other goals, like learning how to windmill or becoming more informed about sports. Especially with medicine, I'm afraid of missing all these other pursuits.

I know everyone must wonder this at some point or another...How do you decide what to focus your learning on? How do you become a well rounded conversationalist and knowledgeable about most things? Do you just go with it? What are your other areas of expertise?

 

[Kimchii]

Knowledge is endless. Learn what you can, know what you're good at and work with others to pool together knowledge. You only have so much time in the world.

 

[dmf2682]

About a few months ago I went to find my friend on the fourth floor of our school's library. This was the language floor and I stumbled on this book with an interesting leather binding. Opening it up and there's just all this German and I just wonder ....wtf? I know none of this!
It didn't quite sink in at the moment but afterwards I discussed this with a few friends and I can't help but feel like my knowledge is inconsequential. And although this, college, is meant to be the best years of our lives there's a desire to do everything somehow to resolve this limitation. Yet, before I go trying to discover the whole world it's just simply impossible. I guess I find myself spread thin because I want to learn and unlock as much as I can. For example, I can study a 5 year window in Chinese History or an interesting aspect of neuroscience, maybe mirror neurons lets say, to a depth that will bring me satisfaction. But in that pursuit I will have used my time and still not have accomplished other goals, like learning how to windmill or becoming more informed about sports. Especially with medicine, I'm afraid of missing all these other pursuits.

I know everyone must wonder this at some point or another...How do you decide what to focus your learning on? How do you become a well rounded conversationalist and knowledgeable about most things? Do you just go with it? What are your other areas of expertise?

If you're worried about it go get a job after college and put medicine on hold for a few years. I'm almost 29 now and spent the last 7 years living it up as a young professional engineer. I've a good job, a house and have no regrets. I sure have learned a lot though. Gives me some good perspective switching into a new field.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Someone who knows a little about a lot isn't employable. Someone who knows a lot about a little is. You have to become "specialized" in this world, the idea of a renaissance man is no longer applicable to us.

 

[theseeker4]

About a few months ago I went to find my friend on the fourth floor of our school's library. This was the language floor and I stumbled on this book with an interesting leather binding. Opening it up and there's just all this German and I just wonder ....wtf? I know none of this!
It didn't quite sink in at the moment but afterwards I discussed this with a few friends and I can't help but feel like my knowledge is inconsequential. And although this, college, is meant to be the best years of our lives there's a desire to do everything somehow to resolve this limitation. Yet, before I go trying to discover the whole world it's just simply impossible. I guess I find myself spread thin because I want to learn and unlock as much as I can. For example, I can study a 5 year window in Chinese History or an interesting aspect of neuroscience, maybe mirror neurons lets say, to a depth that will bring me satisfaction. But in that pursuit I will have used my time and still not have accomplished other goals, like learning how to windmill or becoming more informed about sports. Especially with medicine, I'm afraid of missing all these other pursuits.

I know everyone must wonder this at some point or another...How do you decide what to focus your learning on? How do you become a well rounded conversationalist and knowledgeable about most things? Do you just go with it? What are your other areas of expertise?

No matter how much you know, you will never know much about the vast majority of topics. Learn about what interests you, or what interests you the most if your areas of interest are too many to learn about all of them. Don't compare what you know to what others do and then worry about it like you are here, as there will always be people who know more about a subject, even a subject you are highly involved in, than you do. Just learn enough to satisfy your own curiosity.

If you really want to learn things so you can "converse" about them and seem smart to others, don't. You will just sound like a pretentious idiot spouting factoids with the obvious intent of making yourself look good, rather than someone with a passion about what you are discussing.

 

[gettheleadout]

Someone who knows a little about a lot isn't employable. Someone who knows a lot about a little is. You have to become "specialized" in this world, the idea of a renaissance man is no longer applicable to us.

Indeed, we as a collective simply know too much for an individual to master it all.

 

[Narmerguy]

Someone who knows a little about a lot isn't employable. Someone who knows a lot about a little is. You have to become "specialized" in this world, the idea of a renaissance man is no longer applicable to us.

Which is rather sad, because I rather like the idea of a renaissance man (or woman). But, truth be told, the ultra-specialists win in most situations. I will say that when you get to the tippidy top (CEOs, Deans, etc), it definitely helps to be knowledgeable, socially gifted, and other such things...but obviously this likely applies to an extremely small portion of us 😀

 

[Ub3rmensch]

I feel that way as well, however, life isn't just about the pursuit of knowledge. You have to experience things you haven't, and enjoy yourself from time to time.

 

[littlefaster]

If you really want to learn things so you can "converse" about them and seem smart to others, don't. You will just sound like a pretentious idiot spouting factoids with the obvious intent of making yourself look good, rather than someone with a passion about what you are discussing.

Agreed. I've found that it's much better to come off as generally interested and less knowledgeable than to act as though you know it all. This is why I engage knowledgeable people in conversations and ask lots of questions for clarification. It makes for interesting talk at social gatherings and I actually get to learn something from someone who's spent some time in the field...life will offer many opportunities for intellectual growth if you allow it.

 

[buddry]

But in that pursuit I will have used my time and still not have accomplished other goals, like learning how to windmill or becoming more informed about sports. Especially with medicine, I'm afraid of missing all these other pursuits.

Woah, dream big....
Men have dedicated entire lives to the windmill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windmill_(b-boy_move)) only to watch their dream of whirling glory tear itself asunder like an poorly balanced centrifuge. You're embarking on a dark path my friend. A dark, dark path.

And I'll give you the best advice you're going to get about becoming informed about sports: walk away while you still can. Forget that dream because all it can bring you is sorrow.

 

[vayntraubinator]

If you really want to learn things so you can "converse" about them and seem smart to others, don't. You will just sound like a pretentious idiot spouting factoids with the obvious intent of making yourself look good, rather than someone with a passion about what you are discussing.

Being able to converse across many topics at depth allows for a more interesting and pleasant conversation for both parties, I feel. It's not to say that asking genuinely curious questions to someone knowledgeable about NASCAR where I know little about will necessarily make for a bad conversation, but I feel like if I did know more about NASCAR then we could share our perspectives on the racing season and appreciate our mutual interest more so than the previous scenario. I believe that anyone can be a good conversationalist as long as they exhibit characteristics of genuine interest, attentive listening, sincere appreciation, and a high energy for the other person. However, I will, most of the time, have a better conversation with someone that's acutely knowledgeable about chess for example, as we discuss the recent games of Aronian or Topalov, rather than talking with someone that has not had the chance to learn about current chess news.

And as a side note, If I'm not mistaken isn't the windmill the easiest power move to learn (vs. flares, handspins, headspins, etc)

 

[Omppu27]

About a few months ago I went to find my friend on the fourth floor of our school's library. This was the language floor and I stumbled on this book with an interesting leather binding. Opening it up and there's just all this German and I just wonder ....wtf? I know none of this!
It didn't quite sink in at the moment but afterwards I discussed this with a few friends and I can't help but feel like my knowledge is inconsequential. And although this, college, is meant to be the best years of our lives there's a desire to do everything somehow to resolve this limitation. Yet, before I go trying to discover the whole world it's just simply impossible. I guess I find myself spread thin because I want to learn and unlock as much as I can. For example, I can study a 5 year window in Chinese History or an interesting aspect of neuroscience, maybe mirror neurons lets say, to a depth that will bring me satisfaction. But in that pursuit I will have used my time and still not have accomplished other goals, like learning how to windmill or becoming more informed about sports. Especially with medicine, I'm afraid of missing all these other pursuits.

I know everyone must wonder this at some point or another...How do you decide what to focus your learning on? How do you become a well rounded conversationalist and knowledgeable about most things? Do you just go with it? What are your other areas of expertise?

I'm sorta going through the same thing right now. I just got a new car this past weekend and realized i don't know s*** about cars... Now i want ot learn everything about them. Also, i tell myself im gonna learn chinese, spanish, and arabic... ya right. I'm sure this kind of stuff happens to lots of people.