The story of how the Dunning Kreuger effect appeared on my radar is a circuitous one…
Before I even published the talent lesson, I had written “How to tell how good you are at drums” in an Evernote, along with all the other lessons I want to make this summer.
Sure - I thought maybe it would get clicks.
More importantly, I was fired up enough to have “interesting” things to say about it.
Even then, I’d started getting extremely strong opinions in my comments threads…
…and they almost always lead to YouTube channels with between zero and 2 videos.
Not judging at all. It’s great that these people put themselves-out-there, and I appreciate all constructive critiques.
Still, it was hard to ignore that all of the strongest opinions seemed to come from people with the least direct experience with the subject matter.
Two events brought it all home.
First, the Talent episode went live. And there were literally dozens of extremely strong opinion on the nature/nurture debate…
Second, I was discussing it with a friend with his own YouTube channel, asking if he’d received similar comments, and he said, “oh, definitely. Have you heard of the Dunning Kreuger Effect?”
I had. In passing. Probably on The Fighter and The Kid. But I hadn’t given it much thought.
Turns out, that strong opinion/little experience thing isn’t a coincidence. It’s a proven cognitive bias.
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” I thought.
I remembered my own history with the drums, and how I was probably most arrogant earlier in my drum “career”…
…and how time, and regular opportunities to get “schooled” had bloodied and beaten my ego into somewhat submission.
“I wonder if this is a thing with other drummers?” I thought.
Only one way to find out.
In today’s lesson, I speak about my past failures, Dunning Kreuger, and some practical ways to put ourselves more deeply in touch with how we really sound.
Hope you enjoy:)