Simply denotes that the bearer has a markedly less-than-average grasp of the subject material and/or skills.-- FlyingToaster, Dec 01 2010 YESSSS!-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 01 2010 Big Fat "F"
{I'm sensing the academical exasperation in [MB]'s anno. Solidarity!}-- Jinbish, Dec 01 2010 I actually pride myself on my ignorance. The best way to go into any new field of endeavour is to have a solid grasp of the underlying principals, but a complete ignorance of everyone else's work. This is virtually the only way to be creative.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 01 2010 Baked. BA (Hons) Sociology.-- 8th of 7, Dec 01 2010 I know what you mean [MB] - If you don't look at the "answer" beforehand, you ask your own questions. If, however, you see an answer, it's easier to nod your head and go - "Yep, that answers that question". As I learn in academia, I find that asking the right question is always more difficult than finding an answer. {Jb's "Mantra about PhDs, no. 2 of 3}
Which brings me to a question for you [FT]: "Is the certificate for those that have tried to learn and failed (big fat "F"), or more of a 'I haven't got round to learning about X yet'?"-- Jinbish, Dec 01 2010 // asking the right question is always more difficult than finding an answer //
... which is, of course, "42".-- 8th of 7, Dec 01 2010 Educators get to state "we tried, don't ask us (at this institution) again", and rampant underachievers get something for their disefforts, hopefully knocking the wheels off the trend to pass everybody no matter what.
didn't consider Max's take (certificate of having nothing to unlearn), but that sounds valid too, as does Jin's (haven't got'round to learning it yet). § x1-- FlyingToaster, Dec 02 2010 // rampant underachievers get something for their disefforts //
A seat in Congress ?-- 8th of 7, Dec 02 2010 Then you get a punch in the face.-- Jinbish, Dec 02 2010 there's no way to "fail" this certificate, though I have had the opportunity to attend courses which point seemed to be to teach the students less than nothing.-- FlyingToaster, Dec 02 2010 Would it be possible to cheat in the exam by using disappearing ink for all the answers? Clearly one's own name would need to be legible in order to recieve the certificate.
Or perhaps one should be awarded a pass for failing to turn up due to ignorance of the time and or location of the exam.-- Twizz, Dec 02 2010 Everyone's ignorance on a wide range of matters is almost total. I can't say "most things" because that would be trespassing beyond what can be known. For instance, it's possible to know an uncountably infinite number of mathematical truths but there is also an uncountably infinite number of facts which cannot be known. Then there's the nature of knowledge. It can be within a particular subject area which itself fails to relate meaningfully to the physical Universe. Theology and astrology might be examples of that. I happen to know a little about quincunces and inconjunct aspects. These might be useful in interpreting what people mean when they say something astrological, but because i believe astrology not to be a natural science, i wouldn't use that for predictive purposes.-- nineteenthly, Dec 02 2010 //The best way to go into any new field of endeavour is to have a solid grasp of the underlying principals, but a complete ignorance of everyone else's work. This is virtually the only way to be creative.//
I disagree, when I start on a new topic of research, I try to start with the underlying principals, but then go through existing art to see if I can track the choice branching made to reach each conclusion. Hopefully then I can backtrack and see if earlier branching choices where missed and could lead to unexplored fertile fields. Running down each of the trodden paths myself takes too long.-- MisterQED, Dec 02 2010 //I hate finding a similar previously missed research fork that shows that a competitor has reached the commercial stage//
I agree. I rate my knowledge of a topic by seeing how long ago my present "invention" was invented.-- MisterQED, Dec 02 2010 I have always told people that I am *ignorant by choice* concerning politics. They mostly hate that, so a ceritficate - with matching pin* would be great! Then I wouldn't have to talk to people who want to talk politics!-- xandram, Dec 02 2010 Steam engine time.-- nineteenthly, Dec 02 2010 All the sex positions and recipes I invented, only to find out that somebody else thought of it as well.-- normzone, Dec 02 2010 random, halfbakery