Google it! – Is it still worth being knowledgeable?
I was pointed to an interesting article recently which posed this question; one which discomforts those who’ve worked hard to accumulate valuable, specialized knowledge. So, does knowledge still matter? The answer, in my humble opinion is a big yes!
The term ‘rational ignorance’ was coined in the 1950s. Essentially it means don’t bother learning what you can pay someone else to know. Fast-forward 60 years and Google is that someone. The reality is that Google is only as reliable as the people who populate it; whilst it’s an all-knowing expert, it’s also an ill-informed theorist – and there’s no filter to separate the two! Another reality is that our days are made up of small snap decisions founded on existing knowledge, not online research.
So rest assured, Google may know more than you, but it’s not as wise (or fast)!