The Dunning-Kruger Effect

TheismIsUntenable
TheismIsUntenable: The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias manifesting in unskilled individuals suffering from illusory superiority, mistakenly rating their own ability much higher than is accurate. This bias is attributed to a metacognitive inability of the unskilled to recognize their ineptitude. Conversely, people with true ability tend to underestimate their relative competence based on the erroneous or exaggerated claims made by unskilled people.

This has become a real issue today.

You find people, let's say English teachers for example, who speak on matters of science or philosophy who appeal to themselves as authorities (when they aren't.)

DK effect is very prevalent on the internet.

With high probability the person you are chatting with has an IQ between 90-110, has a non-STEM field degree, and knows little to nothing about areas outside their specialization.

One must be EXTREMELY cautious when engaging people who have fallen prey to their own incompetence.

How to combat this:

1) Demand [credible] sources for everything
2) If an appeal is made to the individual's knowledge, ask for their credentials (BE WARNED: People often lie when confronted directly like this.)
3) Ask questions such as "how do you know that?" or "Can you provide evidence to support this outside your own conjecture?"

Happy Interneting
9 years ago Report
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lori100
(Post deleted by TheismIsUntenable 9 years ago)
theHating
theHating: Very good advice.
4 years ago Report
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Angry Beaver
Angry Beaver: Because... god, is not a legitimate reply either!
(Edited by Angry Beaver)
4 years ago Report
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Angry Beaver
Angry Beaver: The Dunning - Kruger is strong in this one Obi Wan!
blackshoes
4 years ago Report
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AchillesSinatra
AchillesSinatra: The Dunning-Kruger effect is just another way of saying "you're an idiot", except cloaked in a veneer of scientific respectability.

Cough splutter.

Why not just say "You're an idiot"?
4 years ago Report
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Angry Beaver
Angry Beaver: Cos it upsets people lol
4 years ago Report
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Fractured fairy tale
Fractured fairy tale: Who was Dunning Kruger , Did they invent a car or something , Like Rolls Royce, Or Fiat or
Volts Waggon
4 years ago Report
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