When I was a kid, I didn’t completely understand the rules of American football. I got on the football team, hoping to learn the rules more than actually play football, but everyone seemed to know them (but me). They were never taught, and out of shame, I never asked. I sucked on my high school football team, msstly because I never knew what I was doing. To this day, I am still aware of rules I don’t know in American Football.
Not so many years later, I had been a lifeguard at a swimming pool for a couple of years. I took a pool managers course to learn about taking care of the pool itself. I think it was in the evenings at a local college. In the course, everyone (except me, apparently) already was a pool manager. They discussed flushing the filters, adding the chemicals. Everyone in the class was much older than me and already knew what I came to learn. In the class, we never flushed a filter, or even went to a pool! I never knew precisely what anyone was talking about, didn’t understand the terminology, and again, kept my mouth shut, because I didn’t want to be the sole idiot. I flunked the test, and was so angry, I wrote a scathing letter.
Both times, I didn’t know what was going on, I couldn’t see it until it was over, and I looked back with 20/20 hindsight. Both still cause me anger and resentment and shame today.
I don’t really know the point of this post. Something happened recently that reminded me of it, but now I can’t remember what that was.
I guess my point is, when in doubt, speak up.
Very true! When I was in high school, I took a “Commerce” class. It seemed very easy. There was one guy in the class who never seemed to understand anything though. He was always asking questions about even the most basic concepts, until we all began to laugh at him from the moment he raised his had to ask the question! That didn’t stop him though… He just plugged along, asking dumb question after dumb question! Fast forward to when exam results came out… NEWSFLASH! The guy who asked the dumb questions was the ONLY GUY WHO PASSED THE EXAM!
True story!
Half the time, people around you don’t really know WTF is going on either. Be brave and help them by asking the questions.
When I went to work at Calcasu Lumber co in Austin I had never even been in a lumber company before.I lied and said yeah, I’ve done this ..got hired..went to every dept in the store and took all the pamphlets on every product and took them home and crammed all weekend and then went to work that Monday morning with at least a little knowledge..but still got thrown when a customer asked for a bastard file and I laughed and said yeah, he’s over here by the little fucker file..and when someone asked for a stud finder I laughed and pointed at me…I asked plenty of questions..not only of my other employees but of my customers..gotta ask them questions..I’m still asking questions about shit.