Asking questions

The line “When in doubt, leave it out” or “When in doubt, check it out” still rings true in many editorial rooms around the world today, especially at the sub-editor’s or editor’s desk. Till date, regardless of how intelligent a certain newsman is, he/she will still abide by this rule as though it’s religion.

There is a great lesson to be learned from these little words.

As with all human beings, everyone is fallible and prone to times when they do not know things.

Yet astonishingly, I’ve seen how people go to great lengths to even lie to themselves of their own capabilities or knowledge, always careful to project an image that they are all-knowing and well, as omnipotent as God himself.

That’s just nonsensical.

See, we’ve come to believe that it’s a sin to admit to not knowing things, as if everyone is born with a complete encyclopedia of the universe, condensed into 3lbs of brain matter, and wedged between the ears.

Ever more so, it is important that we just admit to not knowing the things that we do not know and ask questions for that’s how a person learns. It’s a primal rule… has been and always will be the way to learning new things, ideas and knowledge.

It is also wise therefore, to be cautious of characters that walk about with their noses held high as though they know everything there is to know about the universe.

These people, if installed at places of influence will eventually cause the downfall of organisations with nothing more than stupidity and their refusal to admit that they don’t know. I have seen it happening time and again.

So ask questions. There is nothing wrong in admitting that you don't know, at least not yet.