The Cult of Ignorance (and the myth of “experts”)
I’ve just had the frustrating experience of watching “The Truth According to Wikipedia“, featuring Mr Andrew “Buy My Book” Keen. Many of those featured in the video have valuable input, but Andrew seemed to wind me up somewhat (probably his aim).
He calls those that take part in Web 2.0, social media, etc. members of the “Cult of Amateurs”. That without “educated”, “experienced”, “authoritative” experts, the “truth” falls away. I wouldn’t hesitate to place Andrew Keen within the “Cult of Ignorance”.
An educated person does not have anything to university, degrees, 25 years training, or published papers. An educated person is someone that can make sense of valuable information, and apply it in a constructive and appropriate manner. Richard Branson didn’t attend university when society tells us to (and, let’s open our eyes, university is an extended night out on the town, more booze than books).
The main flaw in the argument against democratisation of information is the professed death of truth. To those in the Cult of Ignorance, truth is something definitive and authoritative, spoken by someone who went to Oxbridge and landed a job in the city, to a flock of sheep not trusted enough to speak for themselves. Truth is an absolute statement, albeit conveniently taken from someone just as likely to have the human traits of being mistaken, lying, or both as the next person.
If members of the Cult of Ignorance took a moment to question themselves, they would soon realise that truth is nonexistent (in the terms they talk about it). The closest avenue to truth is always a best guess. What Andrew Keen and his pals don’t realise, is that 10,000 people have better odds of creating that best guess, than one man in a suit trying to protect his status in academic society.
He mentioned that “no one would be interested in what an uneducated kid would want to express”. That “uneducated kid”, of course, being a member of the next generation to take hold of society, once our lot is 6 foot lower, Andrew. Yes, that’s right, us at our desks in our own bubbled-version of the “truth” often live in a different world than the most important generation currently alive, believing that what we know is what they need to know and any attempts to think for oneself must be stopped or woe is us.
I hate giving this guy any attention, but I need an example of a cultist of the ignorant crowd to use. And he was just convenient. For those interested, I’ve no formal qualifications above high school GCSE’s, and didn’t come from a rich family. I could see that university would be too expensive for me, so I took the initiative to find other avenues of education. Last year I earned more than my mother (HR Officer, blue-chip company) and father (Mainframe expert for international bank) combined.
Not to brag, but Andrew Keen and other cultists, you have been disproved a thousand times over.
Tags: amateur, background, business, education, ignorance, social, university, web2.0
April 8th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
this is just classism, and some prick trying to secure his outdated job. Good for you Keen! Im 28 and make six figs programming. My friend is 29 and makes 50 grand more than me as an electrician. I have two kids and the only truth I know is feeding my family. As my dad says, those who can do, those who can’t, teach.
April 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Wise words from your father there, “anon dropout”. Thanks for your support and comments!