Paul GrahamVerified account

Nice post it reminds me of Voltaire's quote: "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd". Still, very unpleaseant when you play a game online with a n00b =P

"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." 1 Cor 3:18

Good thought. As you get more comfortable being uncomfortable this becomes easier and easier.

I'm always happy to put myself into nooby situations.... constant learning.

Isn’t it also that feeling of competent has economic consequences - not many are willing to move from a local maxima in search of higher payoff

I feel we humans don't like the emotion of being a noob because it fights with our other emotion of ego. The moment we register more knowledge some of our previous perspectives break and hence hurts our ego.

Nice essay. Made me think of the line from the Tao Te Ching: The farther you go, the less you know.

Being a noob is like fasting. Acting against impulses, trusting your (newer) logical brain.