(For the Indiana guys, 'CPL' is our concealed permit class. I think you guys call yours something different)
From Wiki:
This phenomena is easily applied to firearm training, gear selection, general advice, etc.
Some examples I regularly see:
'My CPL class was great. Instructors were knowledgeable and we learned a lot.'
Said student has only had exposure to a single CPL class. CPL training is typically the very first step in firearm training and therefore the only exposure to this realm. But since they have nothing to compare their experience to, they are in a poor position to rate how good their class was, how relevant the information was, and how good of a teacher the instructor was.
'The trainer from XYZ school taught me this technique. It is the best way to solve this problem.'
I take issue when anybody says anything is THE way. If said student is questioned on the technique, and their reasoning is "Well that's what so-and-so taught me," be very suspect of their ability discuss technique reasoning. Students who have been taught multiple approaches will be able to articulate WHY they like one technique over another. When they are comparing something to something, instead of something to nothing, their word should be listened to and considered, as it is a word of experience, not a regurgitation of what someone else told them.
'This piece of ABC gear is great! (Be it belts, holsters, guns, sights, optics, etc)
The very next question should be: "What else have you used to compare it to?"
If their experience base with that type of product is limited (or only goes as far as the specific item they are recommending), be suspect of their enthusiasm.
The four levels of Competence
- Incompetent Incompetence
"You don't know what you don't know."
People at this level have simply not had their eyes opened to all the options out there, and have a false sense of knowledge on a specific subject because they don't know what else is out there.
As it relates to firearms, these are typically your non-CPL holders, or someone just out of their CPL class (depending on how good their CPL class really was...) Or someone who has been taught techniques as THE way to do something, and have not been exposed to other, potentially more efficient, methods to attack the same problem.
- Competent Incompetence
"You know how much you don't know."
The person here has been exposed to something that has broadened their view of the topic, and they now realize how much more is out there that they don't know yet.
As it relates to firearms, these are typically people in their first training course, or students coming out of a good CPL class. They are typically hungry for more knowledge and eager to learn the other things they now understand they don't know.
- Competent Competence
"You know what you know."
This person knows their objective, has been taught a way to accomplish said objective, and with focus and concentration can complete said task.
As it relates to firearms, this person understands the core fundamentals of their task, and can complete their task, though maybe not perfectly, and maybe not every time.
- Incompetent Competence
"You don't have to think about what you know."
This person is so well practiced at their task, that it doesn't require thought to complete. It is a standard reaction through practice, or muscle memory. They are much more effective because the brain power used to think about the basic tasks can be allotted to do something else, such as scanning an area, look for other threats, or do a better job at processing information coming at them quickly and make faster and better decisions. They don't have to think about their draw stroke, their sight picture, or their trigger press, they can focus on their threat, the people around them, to shoot or not to shoot, etc.
These are just observations of my own and what was going through my mind at 11:45 on a Sunday night. It is meant to generate conversation, nothing more.
Cliffnotes-
Always consider the source.
Never stop learning.
Thoughts?
From Wiki:
This phenomena is easily applied to firearm training, gear selection, general advice, etc.
Some examples I regularly see:
'My CPL class was great. Instructors were knowledgeable and we learned a lot.'
Said student has only had exposure to a single CPL class. CPL training is typically the very first step in firearm training and therefore the only exposure to this realm. But since they have nothing to compare their experience to, they are in a poor position to rate how good their class was, how relevant the information was, and how good of a teacher the instructor was.
'The trainer from XYZ school taught me this technique. It is the best way to solve this problem.'
I take issue when anybody says anything is THE way. If said student is questioned on the technique, and their reasoning is "Well that's what so-and-so taught me," be very suspect of their ability discuss technique reasoning. Students who have been taught multiple approaches will be able to articulate WHY they like one technique over another. When they are comparing something to something, instead of something to nothing, their word should be listened to and considered, as it is a word of experience, not a regurgitation of what someone else told them.
'This piece of ABC gear is great! (Be it belts, holsters, guns, sights, optics, etc)
The very next question should be: "What else have you used to compare it to?"
If their experience base with that type of product is limited (or only goes as far as the specific item they are recommending), be suspect of their enthusiasm.
The four levels of Competence
- Incompetent Incompetence
"You don't know what you don't know."
People at this level have simply not had their eyes opened to all the options out there, and have a false sense of knowledge on a specific subject because they don't know what else is out there.
As it relates to firearms, these are typically your non-CPL holders, or someone just out of their CPL class (depending on how good their CPL class really was...) Or someone who has been taught techniques as THE way to do something, and have not been exposed to other, potentially more efficient, methods to attack the same problem.
- Competent Incompetence
"You know how much you don't know."
The person here has been exposed to something that has broadened their view of the topic, and they now realize how much more is out there that they don't know yet.
As it relates to firearms, these are typically people in their first training course, or students coming out of a good CPL class. They are typically hungry for more knowledge and eager to learn the other things they now understand they don't know.
- Competent Competence
"You know what you know."
This person knows their objective, has been taught a way to accomplish said objective, and with focus and concentration can complete said task.
As it relates to firearms, this person understands the core fundamentals of their task, and can complete their task, though maybe not perfectly, and maybe not every time.
- Incompetent Competence
"You don't have to think about what you know."
This person is so well practiced at their task, that it doesn't require thought to complete. It is a standard reaction through practice, or muscle memory. They are much more effective because the brain power used to think about the basic tasks can be allotted to do something else, such as scanning an area, look for other threats, or do a better job at processing information coming at them quickly and make faster and better decisions. They don't have to think about their draw stroke, their sight picture, or their trigger press, they can focus on their threat, the people around them, to shoot or not to shoot, etc.
These are just observations of my own and what was going through my mind at 11:45 on a Sunday night. It is meant to generate conversation, nothing more.
Cliffnotes-
Always consider the source.
Never stop learning.
Thoughts?
This topic has the potential to be misused.
