Learning in Public

There’s a tension between wanting to share what you know and not wanting to look like an idiot.

Most people resolve this by only publishing things they’re completely confident about. The result is a lot of polished content from experts, and silence from everyone else.

I’ve decided to go the other way. Write about things while I’m still learning them. Make mistakes in public. Correct them when I figure out I was wrong.

Why bother?

A few reasons:

1. Writing clarifies thinking. I don’t really understand something until I can explain it.
2. It creates a record. Six months from now, I’ll want to remember how I solved this problem.
3. It might help someone. Beginners often explain things better to other beginners than experts do.

The risk

The obvious risk is looking dumb. Publishing something confidently and then having someone point out you’re wrong.

I’ve decided I’m okay with that. Being wrong and learning is better than staying silent and stagnant.

If you find an error in something I’ve written, let me know. I’d rather be corrected than continue being wrong.