Are you unconsciously incompetent or maybe consciously competent?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325758)
Rockingham, Australia
October 11, 2018 9:21am CST
Years ago, I used to be into self-help books. I found an old exercise book where I had summarised some of the main points from some of the books, bits and pieces that really resonated with me at the time. I am now reading them one last time before I throw them out as part of my decluttering program.
One of the entries detailed four types of people when it comes to learning and education. I don’t know if this is documented somewhere. Maybe someone can add more information about where it might have come from.
Firstly there are those who are ‘unconsciously incompetent’ which in a nutshell means they don’t know a lot but they also don’t know that they don’t know so they may not have an interest in learning more. .
The second is ‘consciously incompetent’. These people know they don’t know much and may be working to improve the situation and move up to the next group. .
The third group are ‘consciously competent’ so they know what they need to do but they have to stay focussed to get it done. .
And the last group are ‘unconsciously competent’ They know their stuff so well they can act on automatic pilot as it were.
I’m still trying to work out which group I’m in. Hopefully not the first. Do you know people from each group?
The photo shows Nepalese children at play. Don't miss the one with his head in the hay! 
15 people like this
17 responses
@allknowing (130066)
• India
11 Oct 18
The photo is cute Obvious they do not get to play in sand.
The category unconsciously incompetent is not difficult to come by (lol)
2 people like this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
12 Oct 18
@JudyEv Anyone playing in straw would surely face itching.
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Oct 18
@allknowing Yes, you'd think so. They must think it is worth it - or at this point they haven't yet started to think.
@Marilynda1225 (79730)
• United States
11 Oct 18
That is an adorable picture and it made me smile the second I saw it. The children look like they're having a ball and not one of them is on a cell phone 
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79730)
• United States
12 Oct 18
@JudyEv your picture just reminded me of times when being a kid was just that. They all look like they're having fun
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Oct 18
@Marilynda1225 They do don't they? They'll go home all itchy.
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 18
Last time Vince got a photo of a little monk in his saffron robes and he was on a cell phone so they do have them there! And another photo of an mud-brick house with leaves for the roof with a big satellite dish outside. It's a land of contrasts in many ways.
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@YrNemo (20261)
•
12 Oct 18
Used to be dared by other kids from the farms, to jump around in the hay like that. I was told off later badly (since it made me itchy badly). Interesting grouping there. I will have to think more before coming to any conclusion. (I am the lazy type... )
)1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169965)
• United States
12 Oct 18
Probably consciously incompetent..I have a bit of hay fever sometimes.looking at that photo, makes me sniffle..lol.
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Oct 18
I'm lucky that it doesn't affect me although as you get older sometimes things start to impact on you more.
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 18
Haha. I can understand that. I had to read it slowly and think about each one too. I'm still not sure about it all.
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
11 Oct 18
this photo reminds me of a time when we were feeding the horses with the ploughed mielie husks - there was an enormous pile we had to rake up, but my brother decided that we should first jump in and make a mess - I made a mess and landed up in hospital from my allergies to the hay and my skin rashed unbelievable where the husks cut me. Anyway, the picture is lovely and children should play in the hay if they can. As to your title - there is no cure for stupidity and to me unconsciously incompetent is just that. CURELESS
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 18
There are plenty of 'cureless' people around isn't there? I was wondering if the boys would end up all itchy. It must have been pretty awful for you having to go to hospital from playing in the hay. I played in the hay as a child too.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306216)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Oct 18
Fun picture. No, you're not in the first group. I'm going to lean towards the consciously competent with a heavy leaning towards the unconsciously competent. You know what you want, and you know how to do it, so some of it is natural for you. What you need to know, you seek answers for. And you have a lot of fun doing it.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
11 Oct 18
Children finding happiness from almost nothing - lovely, uplifting picture.
I recall a quote I read long ago:
“He who knows not,
and knows not that he knows not,
is a fool; shun him.
He who knows not,
and knows that he knows not,
is a student; Teach him.
He who knows,
and knows not that he knows,
is asleep; Wake him.
He who knows,
and knows that he knows,
is Wise; Follow him.”
I may fall in the third category - siva
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@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Oct 18
I pretty much live my entire life on autopilot. Don't know if that makes me "competent," but it seems to be a lot easier!
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@wolfgirl569 (95175)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Oct 18
I noticed the feet in the air right away. You cant be in the first one if you are thinking about it
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 18
The kids are having such fun. I wonder if they ended up all itchy.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
11 Oct 18
I think I fall between the consciously competent and unconsciously competent. I know some who are unconsciously incompetent.
They spend hours talking about the things they think they know....all the while, proving just how little they know!
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