Nobody Likes a Know-It-All

[@jazzhandy9479]

i would say, exceptions do exist, for example: Technology Connections. He just shows up, tell you some facts about dish washers and leaves. no explaining the learning process, a minute amounts of showing his own humorous character, but he mostly DO present himself as a know it all

[@tzkbb]

i think the difference is pretentiousness. i've never really taken TC as a know-it-all like Neil DeGrasse Tyson, just a guy who infodumps to you about technology. a casual friendly demeanor goes a long way.

[@nononognome92]

I find that TC still tells a story, even if the intention and learning behind the video is a bit murky - though he does give some insight into his thinking occasionally in his videos and in Technology Connextras videos. He still shows how and why things are the way they are without dumping everything all at once and expecting people to fit the pieces together.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Definitely--this is a notable pattern, not a rule: even on these three channels, there are videos where the creators adopt different strategies (but I do think their basic demeanor is generally more approachable than self-elevating across the board)

[@holidaypenguin]

There is one exception that exists for fringe, less useful or more novelty knowledge - stuff that is marginally more useful than trivia. A lot of what he says is like, "you could dunk THIS toaster in a bathtub without anything happening!" which is cool but not the kind of knowledge you could ever lord over someone with. His videos seem to cover what a good amount of consumers are already thinking in the very back of their mind, like, "why don't US plugs go to higher voltage like in Europe?" or "why didn't electric kettles take off in the US?" where the answer is a little long-winded, kinda neat but not too groundbreaking. I like him :)

[@WhoIsTheEdman]

Alec very frequently and earnestly states the level of confidence in what he understands, which is what makes him not a "know it all". He hedges when he needs to hedge, he explains how much knowledge he has in a particular domain. He demonstrates why he has confidence in a domain without referring to himself as an expert. It's like "I have read papers and absorbed what people said about heat pumps, so if you have an issue with my conclusions, please correct me and investigate what they're saying" rather than "I am the EXPERT of heat pumps and only an IDIOT would disagree". I know that I'm contradicting you, but go ahead and watch his video where he's talking about right-sizing a heat pump for a house. You can see all of that epistemic humility on display. In the cases where there's less "controversial" information, he acts as a kind of communicator. No one considers The Engineer Guy, or the narrator for "How It's Made" to be a know-it-all, haha.

[@yapdog]

Love Destin's channel! He's a phenomenal teacher, but I absolutely love how he switched to know-it-all mode to tear NASA a new one over their failure to follow their own established science in planning the new Artemis project. Classic.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Ha--it means more when you use it sparingly

[@flazzorb]

Basically, no one likes being talked down to by know-it-alls, but people love one know-it-all being dressed down by another know-it-all.

[@fabiofanf3e813]

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[@da_copreee9929]

​@@fabiofanf3e813bot detected

[@ClumsyToast]

It's because people like a story, a journey! Imagine distilling The Lord of the Rings story into a few sentences: With the help of some friends, a hobbit takes a cursed ring across the land and destroys it, despite the oppositional efforts of the great evil maker of said ring. Knowledge achieved! Next story.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thank you for getting right to the point and not telling us your life story and asking us to subscribe like other KZbin commenters are always doing 😜

[@ClumsyToast]

@@WritingwithAndrew Haha, I wish I had that kind of confidence! How very disingenuous of them though, just another kind of salesman to turn down ha.

[@Ripred0219]

@@WritingwithAndrew When does that ever happen?

[@LordVader1094]

@@Ripred0219 It's a joke, relating to what people commonly say about YT videos, but with a few words switched around to make it about YT comments so it's then a funnee absurdist bit of comedy.

[@AnonymooseWasMyName]

Honestly I prefer this to the boring walking and whining forever crap that LotR was. If Gandalf had any brains he would've just given the ring to one of the eagles and had them throw it in the volcano.

[@DonRichard9353]

Just saying: Andrew is for humanities topics what Alec from Technology Connections is for tech paraphernalia, and i'm really glad we can listen to them here.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks a bunch--I'm glad that you do listen! 🙂

[@trowweeks6891]

I know far too many people (especially viewers of talented KZbin communicators) that have yet to understand this. I wish more STEM people would learn that story is everything. Great video!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks!

[@m_martha_e]

I think there could be some stereotyping about STEM degree holders in the US that won’t die. I think it may put people off future careers in STEM because they may fear being ostracized from their peers. In my experience through a BS, MS, and PhD in chemical engineering and later in the corporate world, it’s difficult to get your foot in the door if you are unable to tailor your communication to your audience and have a network of colleagues who will vouch for you. I think effective communication may encompass skills that can be taught and will need to be developed regularly. In some places outside the US, doing well in STEM doesn’t seem to be tied to being a poor communicator or being unlikeable, obnoxious, physically repellent, or a know-it-all, but instead a career path just like any other, for those fortunate enough to receive an education even if not a formal one.

[@TheLetterH111]

Writing my thesis I was told repeatedly by my supervisor and mentor that it needs to be a story that the reader can follow. I would expect that most professional scientists (or at least, those with a doctorate) have probably learnt this lesson at some point. I cant speak to how many have retained it

[@clarkbowler157]

Why is there this odd obsession with stories?

[@stevecarter8810]

Or: A Public Is Not An Exam Board. I love how you articulate these ideas. For me it connected to leadership in software development, how software developers feel they bring value and how tech leads can shut down a team by always knowing best.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks--that's a great subtitle, too!

[@Thrarm]

"The human inability to watch the video the whole way through before commenting is astounding" - me, just now

[@NoOneSpecial247]

It might be the weird skull that interrupts the story just when you are in deep though about the subject, and waiting for more info...

[@Haiderali64]

loved the video, then got confused by your sub count! Suspected it to be much higher based on the quality, and expect it will be very soon. Fantastic video!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks, that's very kind--glad you enjoyed it!

[@cuineform3708]

I feel like VSauce is a great counter example, but I haven't checked to know for sure.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Could be--there are even counterexamples probably on these three channels: these strategies are common but by no means the only way to do it

[@ElliotBrownJingles]

Thank you professor! Excellent video and helpful for me this week. I have been asked to go on a nationally broadcast radio programme to speak about typewriters as I repair them and recently sold one to a writer for the station. However, I'm just a repairman, not a scholar, and so I have been cramming typewriter history for days trying to memorize as many facts as my poor brain can take. I guess I thought I needed to build up the "ethos" of being an expert. This video has completely changed my mindset. I will, instead, talk about learning from my (many and possibly amusing) mistakes and what I've learned from the many typists I've talked to. That way I can give credit to others as opposed to being a dry collector of dry facts with a high opinion of his own memory. I'm actually looking forward to it now, as opposed to dreading it. Thanks again!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

That's so cool--you're going to do great! Ethos can take many forms, but people are generally interested in people. I think telling your own stories is a great way to go (and maybe sprinkle some of the technical knowledge in here and there so that studying doesn't go to waste 😉)

[@matthewsimmons6831]

I hope it went (or goes) well!

[@foobarf8766]

Being more humble and concise is great advice! I enjoy and learn from your analysis of rhetoric and communication.

[@EashanKotha]

Woah, this has given me a lot to think about. I’ve wondered about why I find certain videos from communicators/popularizers so engaging. They all seemed to have a “je ne sais quoi” that I couldn’t put a finger on. I’ve also felt a bit reluctant writing about certain topics because I’d feel like “I’m not an expert” or “I know too much to be a useful beginner” but now I see it differently. Thanks!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

You bet!

[@winzyl9546]

I like know-it-all's, I even married one. What I don't like are socially inept know-it-all's.

[@SbF6H]

So you're in love with pain?

[@ms.ferretmanthing2404]

Know-it-alls are usually obnoxious narcs. Weird flex but ok

[@p_serdiuk]

This is the entire format of Answer in Progress. Really like those three.

[@alexalani10110]

Thanks so much for this video I really enjoyed it! I appreciate how much of a fair perspective you give to popularizers who are making the honorable effort of presenting science and complex topics to a wider audience. Since I’ve started grad school, I’ve found it to be extra crucial to take precautions against being a know-it-all. I mean, when I meet people and they ask me what I study at uni and I say that I’m doing my PhD in Quantum Computer Music, it definitely catches many off guard. But I see it as an opportunity to include them in my discovery and knowledge by trying to explain what I do in a digestible manner. The more people I meet, the more chances I get to refine how I frame my research and see what works best so I can meet people where they’re at in understanding. For example, usually the question I will get is, what even is quantum computer music? So I usually begin with trying to meet the general public with something they already know, so I mention how in the 1950s, the computers we have today were just beginning development and were highly unoptimized compared to what we have now. Maybe that person is just imagining some big computers or when computers filled the whole room, which is fine because either way it sets them up to understand how in the 2020s quantum computers are at a similar beginning/early stage. But if that’s too much I’ll just say that the research I do is more or less trying to see if musicians or music producers can gain anything useful from this newer form of computation in the form of quantum computers. Since my background for a time was in music education and I’ve gotten to teach music in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, I’ve slowly but surely taken my more digestible explanations of quantum computer music and challenged myself on how clear and simple I can be without losing the bigger picture or causing blatant misconception. It’s always a balance, one that the ‘almost experts’ have too much vanity to see the worth in. I’m willing to admit that maybe 2 years ago during my undergrad I had similar gripes to the ‘almost experts’ and looking back it was coming from a place of insecurity which all changed when I finally realize that I don’t need to prove myself. I realized that my goal should be to share the love and excitement I’ve attained while learning what I have while acknowledging that my journey in understanding quantum computer music and any topic really has only just begun.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks for the added perspective (and for giving me something to learn about--quantum computer music, here I come!) 🙂

[@copywright5635]

What do you think about 3blue1brown videos then? It's definitely science (or math) communication, but there's a distinctness to it. So much so that it's spawned it's own genre of explainer videos

[@SimonBuchanNz]

it's still extremely rhetorical, walking you through why *you* should care, why *you* could figure this out, rather than being the gatekeeper allowing knowledge out.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Ooh, stay tuned 😉

[@copywright5635]

@@WritingwithAndrew Excited! I'd like to know your thoughts on that content, as it's kind of my genre as well. Excited to hear what you have to say so I can improve on my own stuff!

[@onetruetroy]

Excellent teachers: Lily Tomlin, Andy Rooney, Mr. Rogers, Captain Kangaroo, Helen van Wyk, Richard Feynman, Bob Ross, Roy Underwood, Carl Sagan, my favorite 5th grade teacher, Ms. Stempinski, and many others

[@DankePrime]

This is not going to stop me from being a know-it-all

[@yapdog]

Andrew, you do live by example as demonstrated in your interaction with the commenters. I like how you're open to discussion, especially with someone like me, and old dude with only a high school education who is a self-taught writer.. and who only started writing novels like--checks watch--a few years ago. Great channel, m'man😁

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks--that means a lot!

[@jeykim5080]

This was my first video of your channel and i immediately subscribed. I appreciate how much you broke it down and its actually made my day :)

[@cheeseitup1971]

This is what initially interested me in Destin's videos. He puts a lot of emphasis on other, "lesser" people knowing more than him. It's an empathetic reminder that we all know different things and that everyone is using their brain for something. I can't recall any specific textbook concepts from his videos, but I can still hear him saying that farmers are smart!

[@walkermott1750]

I do think that credentialism is one of the leading reasons that functional science (things actually relevant and useful to the every day person) has stagnated. The only people *allowed* to make things and do this research are those that are beyond that of the average person. The average guy is going, "Man, it sure would be cool if I can power my AC with solar panels to cut down on the electric bill." meanwhile the average credential holder hasn't left a climate controlled building in months and doesn't even think about AC, it simply exists for them. Yes the layman could technically make this thing if they had the disposable income to replace burned out batter cells and broken ACs from prototyping. The AC thing is just an example, this applies to science as a whole. Let's not forget the most important medicinal discovery of the modern era only happened because a scientist let a sandwich rot on his desk and decided to look at the mold growing on it.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Here's to moldy sandwiches (and the larger valuable point you've made)!

[@VolkColopatrion]

Wait that solar panel and AC reference is that more of an ivory Tower or credentialist issue?

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

​@@VolkColopatrionthose are essentially two sides of the same coin. Once someone buys into the credentialist accumulation hype they inevitably end up in the ivory tower, and everyone in the Ivory Tower only got in because they punched the right credentialist tickets. They both share the same root ill, which is a disconnect from functional reality.

[@squircle976]

@@VolkColopatrioni don’t see how you could separate the two, being wealthy makes getting into a college, and actually finishing that degree all the more likely, not to mention that people with credentials tend to get higher pay. sure there are “working class” scientists, but who is both actually facing the struggles of “i can’t pay for my ac this summer”, and is actually also offered grants to research things like this? i bet not a lot of

[@VolkColopatrion]

@@squircle976 academia doesn't pay * that* well. The ideological insulation however...

[@Garblegox]

Seems like common transactional analysis. People feel better learning from peers, in an adult-to-adult form of communication, rather than learning from superiors, in a parent-to-child dynamic. Learning isn't simply some vertical ascent you make, up into greater heights of smartness. Learning is a big open field, with things in all directions. Say I go north to learn about birds and primates, while someone goes south to learn about magnets and rocket ships, the two of us had to sacrifice time to commit to either direction. There'd be no sense in us getting together, and one of us pretending to be the smarter one, we should be helping to fill each other in on what we missed.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

That seems like an especially cooperative (and realistic) way to frame it--I'm into it!

[@matthewglenguir7204]

this channel is a goldmine of insights

[@pendlera2959]

I wonder how much the US culture of anti-intellectualism plays a part in the kinds of science educators that become popular here. Would different techniques work better in cultures where science expertise was revered instead?

[@WritingwithAndrew]

It's an interesting question. I would guess that the nuances would differ but that the basic strategies would remain the same. Even Aristotle was writing about rhetoric's usefulness for addressing non-expert audiences, so the basic rhetorical problem feels pretty consistent

[@NutshellBrainery]

Going to take some time to really internalize this. Excellent insights.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks!

[@irakyl]

You gave such great insights on the video fragments! Thank you for sharing these conclusions

[@theale8821]

Awesome video!! Needed this, love learning about effective writing through observing KZbinrs

[@Maxandmike]

Philosopher Elliot Sober made a very good interpretation of the creationist vs evolutionist debate in chapter 2 of “Philosophy of Biology”. He really stayed away from blurting the “untestable” and “pseudoscience” claims that STEM Lords (my inclusion) would proudly exclaim. Instead, he using methods such as the likelihood principle to show that it is critical to avoid bias from both sides. Not only that, he criticizes both the evolutionists and creationists for propping up poor arguments against each other. He has quickly risen to be an inspiration for me on how to interpret scientific debate and communication.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Nice--I'm not familiar with Sober, but that sound like a thoughtful approach (what else could you expect from a philosopher, I guess 😆)

[@Esther-fu8en]

Interesting! Thank you for sharing. Isn't it just a way of storytelling as well? We get to follow the hero in the Quest for Knowledge and are invested in the process.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Yeah, that's one way to think of it. The first two videos are more strongly narrative than the SmarterEveryDay one, so I tend to think of it more as framing a relationship than telling a story--but the storytelling is part of it for sure!

[@apoet-y6c]

Im starting to wonder if you've been giving us your dissertation as a series of video essays to slip it out into the non-dissertation-interested public. I will say, your rhetoric videos are a lot more interesting than I expected rhetoric videos to be at first, so that means you're doing your job as a rhetoric communicator. :) I think that youre a popularizer who stands out because you talk about how popularizing works. What better way to downplay your expertise than having your shelf-skull literally downsize you? I mean, maybe there are more interesting ways, but this is the most arcane. :)

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks! (But you can't be giving away my secrets right out of the gate like that 😂)

[@bluesteelgaming2883]

I was thinking about doing a channel where I guide viewers through health research. Too often, I hear people talk about studies as if they are the end-all be-all of knowledge without limitations.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Nice! That's interesting: there's a paper that notices that science communicators often use fewer qualifiers/hedges than scientists. There are good reasons for that, but it wouldn't be hard to take that too far. I bet there'd be an audience for a more nuanced approach like the one you're thinking of

[@gingganggoolie]

I'd recommend checking out Science Based Medicine/ the Skeptics Guide to the Universe if you want some good examples of this kind of science journalism. Not saying there's not room for more and in a different format, but they've been around a while so they've ironed out a lot of kinks

[@mihailos8701]

Thanks for a good video pointing out this, now I'll have greater appreciation for those kinds of videos

[@WritingwithAndrew]

You bet!

[@hirisquvidson7625]

Nile red is an honorable mention

[@gabrielrodriguez821]

Yes and Scientific America/Popular science is written at a high school level because it's literally popular science. Science written for the general public.

[@supErchalo1000]

I came here thinking that you were going to roast people, but after watching the video, I realize that is what a know-it-all would do.

[@Blueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

CGP Grey annoys me to no end for reasons I can't explain. Sorry CPG Grey

[@pelicanbowling]

I do think the “Know It All” aspect, while he successfully avoids it in some videos, fails to in others. His videos on flag tier lists is an example, he uses archaic “flag rules” that ignores other elements such as culture and treats them like a gold standard. Who cares if Brasil’s flag has text on it, if Brazilians agree that the flag represents them then it is a good flag.

[@TheRealMycanthrope]

​@@pelicanbowlingyes, that's the game.

[@hundvd_7]

​@@pelicanbowlingThe flag tier list is CLEARLY entertainment-only and not at all objective, nor particularly educational. This is 100% your fault.

[@ultimaxkom8728]

I'd bet it's due to the presentation style - with some exceptions. Though I (personally) don't find it a deal breaker.

[@narconyx]

100% agree I can't stand his videos

[@miraadi97]

Definitely bridging of Hierarchy by getting a step down to build democratic spaces at each level of transitioning is integral with barrier of caste, religion, gender, creed, death threat, rioting, harrasment, when to dismantle status quo speaking of India in science communication and journalism it's every little and scientists needs to get their feets wet with these risks of current political structure.

[@gustavosedano294]

Great video! Finding the commonplace or presenting the information in a way that doesn't make it so intimidating when you first learn about it is absolutely some of the most valuable skills a communicator has. For me personally this video makes me appreciate 3b1b's work even more.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Cool--I'm glad to hear it!

[@JulianDanzerHAL9001]

3:10 and now we can learn to apply the same process to find out literally anything other than where the name tiffany comes from

[@jordanfranck]

This was so good

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks!

[@gleeblerealness]

cant think of anything smart in response but this is an awesome video love ur skull

[@vevepriezviskova6909]

Wow, outsanding video! A very original topic and you must have put a lot of effort in the reserach and finding those clips. Well done!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks a lot!

[@nl_morrison]

you do a really good job sifting through rhetoric! id love to see these videos you mentioned linked in the comments section

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks! I meant to put them in the description, but I guess I forgot--I'll do it soon!

[@nl_morrison]

@@WritingwithAndrew its no worries!! i tried to comment this in the nicest way possible lol

[@WritingwithAndrew]

(Finally) done!

[@GameKiller48]

Interesting video! May I offer some constructive critique? Without having seen any other videos from this channel, I can already assume the skull to be a reoccurring gimmick. There is, however, a problem with it: the whisper is incomprehensible. Now, that might be the point & be a valid choice from a style perspective (it's clearly going for a "cursed artifact" aesthetic), it is unfortunately a bad choice from a communication perspective (which is kind of ironic, given the content of this video). Here was my experience watching this video: I opened up this video, moved it to my second monitor, started working on some things on my main monitor, and then had to regularly jump back and forth between the two monitors, regularly rewinding the video 15 seconds, because I had missed one half of the conversation when the skull was involved. Of course, this is entirely my fault, no one forced me to consume this video the way I did. But at the same time let's be realistic: I'm not the only one who watches videos this way. So here is my suggestion: Try listening to your conversation with the skull with the video turned off to emulate the experience of someone only paying half attention, and see if it's enjoyable. And if you find that it's not, try playing around with the audio effects of the skull. I'm sure a middle ground could be found, e.g. keeping the whisphering echos, but layering a less echo-y maybe down pitched version of the audio on top, that still clearly communicates the "cursed artifact" aesthetic, while at the same time being intelligible enough that the contents of the video can be followed just by listening to it. Anyways, that's just my two cents.

[@ika_666]

you think you know it all about knowing it all

[@beansforsalewahoo]

People like Brennan Lee Mulligan though

[@Zythryl]

…you’d call him a know-it-all?

[@efu2046]

He's an excellent story-teller and has high enough charisma to pull it off, so i think that's why

[@asgacc8789]

Um actually, people love Brennan Lee Mulligan

[@_earlyworm]

he’s not a know-it-all he doesn’t go out of his way to flex his intelligence in front of others. there’s a difference between pride and not going out of ur way to be humble. for ppl on his level it’s really really hard to downplay urself cuz it kinda just leaks out

[@Thrarm]

​@@Zythryl absolutely 100% yes. but he's also very funny when he does it

[@Blazuchan]

Just found your video, and its very enlighting, and i shall sub to you.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Well thanks!

[@lowerlowerhk]

Just to throw some ideas to see if it echoes. In law there is a saying that not only must justice be done, it must be seen to be done. To demonstration of something is as important as the thing itself. For we humans are evolutionarily motivated by stories. We make up stories about ourselves and others. From these stories we distinguish what is desirable and what not. We hold dear to these stories that we are willing to go the great lengths to defend them.

[@ClarenceEwing]

In my experience, the best of these videos are made by creators who aren’t know-it-alls but do, in fact, have some knowledge about the subject they’re talking about. That’s why I enjoy channels like Philosophy Tube (philosophy), The B1M (architecture) and Trash Theory (music history). These channels' creators don’t act like they know everything, but they know enough to ask interesting questions and present interesting knowledge.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Definitely! (And I'll have to check out those last two channels, too--thanks!)

[@Relatablename]

For the record, I really like Destin. He seems like a cool guy.

[@whataboutthis10]

Sort of close-minded tho. I know he tries, with science especially - but life wise not that much, also avoidance of adressing societal problems, he's very unchallenging of his upbringing. See interaction with his kids, glazing US, army stuff in particular

[@moonblaze2713]

I'm not saying the Tiffany video was a poor choice, but CGP's video on which planet is closest was possibly better for this. ... Though i may be biased because I love that video.

[@jakariashafin8685]

Hello, I hope I am not being rude but can you make a video on all the ways a theme or idea can be expressed. I am curious on whether or not if the methods differ for reguler story writers and philosophy writers. I unfortunately dont have the time to figure it out myself and I can't seem to find a specific or clear enough answer online. Or do you have a video already I am kinda new to your channel and am not aware of such a video.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Could you tell me more about your question? "Theme" can sometimes mean something more or less specific in certain contexts. Specific methods will vary from one kind of writing to another, but the basics of being specific and helping readers to connect ideas will apply more broadly (and there are videos on the channel that talk about that). You might check out the Academic Writing and Writing Technique playlists as a place to start

[@jakariashafin8685]

@@WritingwithAndrew thank you, sorry for the late reply I have been extremely busy recently.

[@jessstuart7495]

Lowest-common-denominator science education is not better science education.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Indeed

[@scootergirl3662]

My favorite science/tech channels are the ones where they aren't afraid to be the expert, but they also don't pretend to know stuff outside their specialty. They will admit when they just don't know something. To me the true obnoxious know-it-alls are the ones that act like "Well, I am good in one subject, so I must be good at all of them" (looking at MatPat in particular - sorry not sorry. Could never stand the guy) For an example, Big Clive is a great educator because he relays his enthusiasm for electronics in an approachable manner, but at the end of the day he does have literal DECADES of experience. But he comes from a place of wanting to give back to the internet, not just be the smart guy. And he is willing to admit when he comes across something he isn't familiar with.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Nice--I don't know Big Clive's stuff, but I really like that idea of wanting to give back rather than just showing off how much he knows. I think that makes all the difference

[@TwoForFlinchin1]

Does this video define what a know-it-all is? I listened and listened back to the intro, did I just miss it?

[@syahrialiskandar6715]

good video Andrew!!👐

[@Ozo_Maduka]

Great video...subd!

[@dunnowhattotype8451]

You know, the core of edutainment is a compromise between showmanship/storytelling and teaching/answer questions. I'm fine with this deal, because this type is media is why I like science. For me, problems arise when you don't balance it. A balance that is very subjective. TL:DR: Many videos can be quite inaccurate, hard to parse or feel inaccessible. Why even watch? Longform: As long as the information is relatively accurate, the "story" isn't to annoying and the person stays somewhat relatable, everything's good. This little rant fits a lot better to essays, but whatever. Not researching (e.i. reading Wikipedia), overdramatizing or too many tangents, presenting yourself as "holier-then-thou" or putting opinions/interpretation as facts are really annoying. Additional, long-winded videos without point, hard to comprehend sentence structure, missing sources where you got your info from etc. I could say more, but I want to end this on a more personal note. I really struggle with keeping information in my head. ADHD really is annoying, because I easily lose track of what I aim to write and what videos aim to inform about. Compared to dry scientific papers at university, these videos are a lot easier to understand. Still, there is so much misinformation or bad research... I sometimes wonder "Why even bother with videos?" and I watch a lot less nowadays.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

It's true: balance matters and can be hard to achieve or maintain. The overtly inaccurate or crummy videos don't make it any easier for viewers...

[@bettievw]

I’ve really been enjoying these videos on the rhetoric we see on this platform! I’d be very interested in a similar analysis of popular political and philosophy channels like philosophy tube and contra points. I have my opinions, and I’m intrigued to see what others think.

[@ChandanaPriyantha-pq3uv]

Thank you sir for the lesson

[@WritingwithAndrew]

You bet

[@invluo3219]

This is true even in the art side of youtube! a lot of tutorials go through that story telling process instead of straight up facts. But maybe that'sbecause nothing in art is absolute, and by extension there's no such thing as a know-it-all 🤔😂

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Cool connection, thanks!

[@taylorcasale680]

I want to learn how you tie that tie

[@salahhamed9985]

Alot of popular science channels follow this strategy of decorating their content with lip serves about how complex science is and encourage their followers to always fact check them and to not take their word at face value but after all that they end up with followeres with cult mentality and very thin skin to criticism so i'm cynical about such strategies and their supposed humbling effect!

[@kylespevak6781]

This is helpful in making vetter content

[@RobinsonCajas-u5u]

Ironically this video is a know it all

[@juglardelzipa]

another example: alex french guy cooking.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Ooh yeah, it's been a while since I've watched that channel, but definitely doing a similar thing!

[@Good9tTo9t]

Wow! A channel where all the comments are at least two sentences long instead of two words long.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Ha, we're a discursive bunch, I guess

[@louimmature]

oooo the grillies are figthtinf

[@VaibhavKatoria]

Please explain how can we infer that poet is talking about greed? “Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great and would suffice”

[@fall5923]

I do, if they have the means to back it.

[@Blank-lh2hn]

All to do with knowing your audience and adjusting your communication to match that audience. Seems obvious, but perhaps not so.

[@Onthewayover]

Oh no! Will Andrew return from the most extreme of shrinkification?? Or will Kaput rest in peace evermore???

[@kaputmortuum]

One can hope...

[@apoet-y6c]

"rest in peace" :) love the pun

[@amorphis150]

Haha, this is funny and entertaining! With all due respect, keep up the great work, but don't forget, élan vital!

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Thanks

[@Pawnlust]

I like "know it alls" if they're right and on a related conversational topic. Only pathetic and insecure people have a problem with it.

[@7177YT]

When I just want to be entertained during a break, I don't mind the bloat you want us to sell as necessary. I'm looking for art not science in that spot. But when I want to learn something, I want the effing answer, and long winded expositions retelling a journey I don't care for just obfuscates the bit I need to know. The necessity to scrub through overscripted bloat just fatigues and frustrates me. Both are fine, the edutainment and the educational material, but they serve different purposes and should be produced following different paradigms. Also I hate channels who assume their audience are idiots and explain concepts middle school children usually have a grasp of, dumbed down so much they are at best misleading.

[@battlelawlz3572]

“Nobody likes a know-it-all” is the single hardest cope I’ve ever heard.

[@cameronschyuder9034]

The phrase is generally true (though not literally, with the “nobody” absolutism), especially for neurotypicals but does also apply to other neurotypes. Mentioning this specifically bc not presenting as a know-it-all can be tricky and many autistic folks unintentionally make themselves seem like this when in their eyes they’re just sharing the stuff they learned to facilitate more knowledge. Wrong tone, wrong situation/timing, can make others see you as pretentious or condescending. For those that may struggle with seeming to be a know-it-all: One way to minimize chances of being seen as a know-it-all, at least to my experience, is to only share information when explicitly prompted or that you can make a direct association of how the other person will benefit from what you’re sharing (is the info relevant to them, is it entertaining, is it comforting?). Also, like what I did in my previous sentence, for stuff like advice, it’s good practice to not assume your advice will unquestionably apply for everyone bc everyone is different with their own different circumstances, and rather present it as “this worked for me and I hope it can work for you or still help you in some way.” Periodically asking for ppl’s opinions/inputs also makes them more actively engaged in the conversation and make it not seem like a lecture. For a debate or sharing of counterarguments, giving the other person credit where it’s due can also reassure ppl that you’re not trying to laud your superiority over them. Speaking of lectures, keeping things short is good especially if you can’t read facial expressions enough to know when someone is getting bored. Easier said than done, though (I struggle w this too, as seen from this long message…) Tone and body language can often supersede other things you do, though, and that’s not something that can be easily explained through text. This especially applies for topics ppl don’t know well abt a given topic (for more info, search up central and peripheral processing methods under psychology). It’s not just the way you sound but the specific kinds of words and phrases you use as two different words can have different connotations (positive, neutral, or negative) even if they are technically synonyms, and people will notice the differences. TV shows and movies, or a patient friend who is more knowledgeable, can help with picking those non-verbal cues up, but it can definitely be a challenge as these are learned behaviors and can also just be regional, plus also culturally-dependent

[@thebrazillianguytm2186]

yeah, specially when you check out his channel, and then you see that his channel, *is exactly* what he's complaining about

[@whataboutthis10]

I don't know any other of his videos, but I disagree with his 'diagnoses' i​n this video. The way Destin "can't believe he fails" when trying pool-flow to me shows the knowitall attitude, the bewildered disbelief how he could possibly not foresee the difficulty. Also how he keeps cutting into girls' narration is disturbing. I see it as fake-not-know-it-all. Grey's video on Tiffany on the other hand I find interesting beyond the mere 'name question'​ ⁠@@thebrazillianguytm2186

[@poleve5409]

youtube comment section makes me want to kms

[@WritingwithAndrew]

It's a wild place for sure...

[@ckq]

0:09 in I might dislike you more than the 3 in the thumbnail. Honestly only CGP Grey acts like he's morally superior (by telling people how to live/think) and I don't think he's ever revealed his identity. Smarter Every Day just seems like a passionate guy. Brain whatever (I forget) seems passionate about her area of research.

[@ckq]

2:15 oops might've made assumptions before I started

[@Alfenium]

CGP Grey flag girls a cute!! OuO

[@WritingwithAndrew]

That's what I get for clickbait 😬

[@forkfelon]

Alright already ...know it all

[@wargreymon2024]

You can't make video as good as they did, and no, science isn't dry.

[@miloxlo5950]

Hi I know it all

[@wagswag]

what did I do on September 26, 2016 at 8:32 pm

[@Grain-h7u]

​@@wagswag😂😂

[@miloxlo5950]

@@wagswag you were breathing

[@aradam9837]

Fapping​@@wagswag

[@bam_henry]

@@miloxlo5950 wrong

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Professor Sir Martin? Big Clive? Fran of Fran Lab?

[@citratune7830]

I agree with almost all of the statements you make in this video. But I don't really agree with the point that no one likes a "know-it-all", and I don't really see how the points suggest that's true. People like a more casual storytelling experience, but that doesn't mean they dislike a informational experience either. I definitely think it has benefits to be friendly, approachable, casual, and overall not intimidating. But I don't see how this makes a know-it-all unappealing. The value in the information the know-it-all presents can be equally appealing, if not more, depending on the subject and your interests of course.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Mostly a response to the attitude I've observed among academics that they are "the expert" or need to make sure they're perceived as such--so it's interesting to see that popularizers will often try to distance themselves from that role (i.e., "Dear academics, you might have more success with people if you just cool it a little...!")

[@ShedBall]

Hey! what’s cgp grey doing in the thumbnail? He’s actually entertaining

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Exactly!

[@jomama5406]

Haven't finished the video but this is why I hate hank green

[@elbert5208]

Nobody likes a time waster too. Nobody even likes a person portraying themselves highly.

[@ivanyes8075]

Video unwatchable with headphones only 👍

[@ArchIVEDCinema]

Smh, you're such a know-it-all in this 😉

[@abhijaman4792]

Did anyone ever told you that you look like Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

I can't say they have

[@cmendoza1094]

I do

[@nishanmagar2024]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Azzy_Mazzy]

Smarter every day except for evolution

[@TommyMedal]

Ok generally good conclusion, but how do you explain Neil Degrasse Tyson, who loves to flaunt knowledge?

[@TommyMedal]

By the way I loved the nonchalant response to shrinking

[@Suryadev-qq6jj]

A lot of people hate him for being a know it all.

[@TommyMedal]

@@Suryadev-qq6jj Yeah I think he's obnoxious, but lo and behold, we all know him

[@marsyasthesatyr]

Perhaps this is because within a more professional setting, Neil deGrasse Tyson wishes to present himself as being a professional and a relatable figure. A friendly teacher, rather than an enthusiastic friend. Because KZbin and content creation wishes to present itself as personable and down-to-earth, the methods become different.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

I think that's a good insight: I think he got his start in more traditional media, which has different rhetorical constraints. That said, knowing someone is not the same as loving someone/their content--obnoxiousness may appeal to certain crowd, but it's clearly not for everyone 😬

[@AnonymooseWasMyName]

This video is VERY MUCH for neurotypicals... No everyone doesn't hate a know it all, and no, everyone doesn't love people to blather on forever without getting to the point.

[@WritingwithAndrew]

Titles are not thesis statements. The title references a common saying; the video describes an unexpected strategy that some science communicators use some of the time. I'm not, nor would I encourage, drawing universals from three examples.

[@GuyPerson-jt9tv]

Why do you look like a younger Rudy Giuliani?

[@seriousbees]

It seems like theres a bunch of dumb people in here mad because theyre thinking you called their favourite creators know it alls 😂

[@bakamitai6654]

Not gonna watch this video, just another guy pretending that he knows everything Edit: this comment is a joke

[@kaputmortuum]

Ironic...

[@Zythryl]

Not gonna like this comment, just another guy pretending he knows better than the person who actually writes

[@JosephReference]

Wow

[@misteral9045]

Annnnnnnnd this video is classic clickbait, covering popular channels in the same way they make their content. No one likes a know it all because we all know no one knows everything, so when someone presents exactly what they know and what they're trying to say, we actually learn. Edit: having finished the video, the only thing I've learned is that you know you don't write interesting things so you compensate for that.

[@aooga9995]

Why are you young dr kleiner