- 08 Dec, 2025 *
We are saturated with facts and ideas today, thanks to AI tools and social media, where knowledge is served as entertainment. Yet we have little idea how to internalise any of it. This is why, despite having access to so much information, we cannot explain it with clarity. Even people in technical fields struggle to describe their own job profiles without slipping into excessive jargon. They know what they do, but they lack the articulation to convey it.
We have never learned how to internalise knowledge because we have never bothered to explain anything to ourselves. We have all read about the Feynman technique, but seldom apply it. We are familiar with first principles, yet rarely use such models to clarify ideas for our own understanding. As a result, we defau…
- 08 Dec, 2025 *
We are saturated with facts and ideas today, thanks to AI tools and social media, where knowledge is served as entertainment. Yet we have little idea how to internalise any of it. This is why, despite having access to so much information, we cannot explain it with clarity. Even people in technical fields struggle to describe their own job profiles without slipping into excessive jargon. They know what they do, but they lack the articulation to convey it.
We have never learned how to internalise knowledge because we have never bothered to explain anything to ourselves. We have all read about the Feynman technique, but seldom apply it. We are familiar with first principles, yet rarely use such models to clarify ideas for our own understanding. As a result, we default to context-specific jargon that feels foreign to everyone else, as if that alone explains our lack of clarity.
We need to learn to explain complex concepts even to children. Certain subjects do require background knowledge, but such limitations do not apply when explaining everyday ideas. Einstein was right: if you cannot explain something to your grandmother, you probably don’t understand it at all. Your grandmother doesn’t need to grasp the physics, but your ability to convey it without jargon reflects your mastery. It shows you have thought through the concept rather than merely memorised it.
People who lack clarity in their own understanding are more prone to leaning on profundity. They hide behind ornate language, as though failing to understand their words is a greater sin than their inability to explain them. Resist this impulse. When you step outside your domain and speak to regular people, avoid using complex words to appear intelligent. It is a temptation worth resisting. Do not treat others as foolish for not knowing what you know or for not thinking the way you do.
This becomes even more important if you are an artist. Your role is to empathise with your audience. They may not possess your depth of knowledge, so when you discuss a concept, simplify it for them. This is not “dumbing down”; it is clarifying without unnecessary complexity. After all, isn’t the purpose of your craft to reach people? If you alienate your audience, how else do you expect to make a living as an artist?
What is the point of writing if the reader struggles to grasp what you are trying to convey? It is shortsighted to expect heightened comprehension from the reader when the writer lacks basic explanatory skill. The responsibility lies with the creator, not the consumer.
If you care about your craft—about your work—then you must care about its interpretation and its consumption. Otherwise, what was the point of creating it at all?