Friday, May 12, 2006
Theory # 22: It's only rocket science if you don't know how it's done
We were at a Hail & Farewell* last weekend, and Carl's boss, in passing, complimented me on doing our family's taxes. I was rather taken aback, thinking perhaps he was being patronizing. Then on Monday, Carl comes home and tells me that Bill had mentioned it again, and seemed quite impressed by it. So then I'm a bit insulted, wondering how stupid he'd thought I was. After all, Bill's a doc, and the taxes.... it took me a half hour to do, and most of that time spent trying to find where I'd put the various bits of paperwork. Carl did convince me that Bill was serious, but it took a while.
the theory:
Eventually it occurred to me that we were both dealing with the same phenomenon, from opposite sides.
I know how to do taxes. I've got a degree in accounting, and spent a few years doing other people's taxes. So I think it's easy.
Bill doesn't know how to do taxes. And he knows he's smart. Therefore, anyone who can figure it out must be smarter.
Granted, there are some things that truly require exceptional genius, but for the most part, we tend to undervalue our own skills and talents, and overrate the skills and talents we don't possess. I think it's a case of familiarity breeding contempt.
Another example: I've always been good at school in general. Always a straight-A student. Because it came easy, it was worthless. Conversely, anything I had to work at must be more valuable--social skills, music, and let's please not talk about housekeeping skills which I still can't quite manage.
I'm not sure if it's a universal human trait, or if it's a product of being raised with a horror of being thought of as conceited. My kids do seem a little clearer than I was, but then I've spent a lot of time convincing them that just because they're good at something doesn't mean it's worthless, and that just because they haven't yet mastered something doesn't mean it's beyond their capabilities.
*a unit function, in this case a dinner, to welcome incoming members and farewell outgoing members. It can be excruciatingly boring, or tolerable, depending on the people involved.
Categories: Theories
the theory:
Eventually it occurred to me that we were both dealing with the same phenomenon, from opposite sides.
I know how to do taxes. I've got a degree in accounting, and spent a few years doing other people's taxes. So I think it's easy.
Bill doesn't know how to do taxes. And he knows he's smart. Therefore, anyone who can figure it out must be smarter.
Granted, there are some things that truly require exceptional genius, but for the most part, we tend to undervalue our own skills and talents, and overrate the skills and talents we don't possess. I think it's a case of familiarity breeding contempt.
Another example: I've always been good at school in general. Always a straight-A student. Because it came easy, it was worthless. Conversely, anything I had to work at must be more valuable--social skills, music, and let's please not talk about housekeeping skills which I still can't quite manage.
I'm not sure if it's a universal human trait, or if it's a product of being raised with a horror of being thought of as conceited. My kids do seem a little clearer than I was, but then I've spent a lot of time convincing them that just because they're good at something doesn't mean it's worthless, and that just because they haven't yet mastered something doesn't mean it's beyond their capabilities.
*a unit function, in this case a dinner, to welcome incoming members and farewell outgoing members. It can be excruciatingly boring, or tolerable, depending on the people involved.
Categories: Theories
Labels: theories
Comments:
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You bring up such a good point, and have put it so well.
There have been endless times when I have faced the horror of something I "don't have figured out" and it has that illusion of being so complicated. As soon as I just plunge in, it never fails to look easier than I thought in hindsight.
It sure is all about perception.
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There have been endless times when I have faced the horror of something I "don't have figured out" and it has that illusion of being so complicated. As soon as I just plunge in, it never fails to look easier than I thought in hindsight.
It sure is all about perception.
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