Wisdom is the knowledge and foresight which prevents engaging in damaging, dangerous, or tricky activities. Wisdom takes us out of trouble, and sees us through difficulties to a happy conclusion.
Where does wisdom come from?
In part, wisdom is innate. It’s a character attribute, marked by the willingness to admit ignorance, and to accept learning. Wisdom is informed by experience.
What is experience?
Experience is living through things. Usually, experience means having survived a bad situation and learned from it. The “bad situation” is usually caused by the lack of experience and wisdom.
Who designed this system!
A synopsis of the above, for technical matters, can be stated simply: Experience is proportionate to equipment ruined.
Learning experience:
This refers to getting into a terrible situation, one that a little foresight and wisdom would prevent.
The Internet Experience Fallacy:
I have recently seen the results of folks attempting to do new things. I’m usually in favor of this. Be bold! But be guided. And know that the Internet is not a reliable source of wisdom.
I’ve recently seen three examples of folks trying to do things, guided by inexperience and internet tutorials. The results weren’t pretty.
Example One: The tire change.
The individual in question looked up a tutorial online. The tire change was successful, but either the tutorial neglected to explain the need for tightening the skewers after the job was done, or the individual in question missed that step. Fortunately, an observant mechanic was present when the do-it-yourselfer complained of a wobble. It could have been a lot worse. One bump and the front wheel would have dropped out of the fork. Avoided, one bad crash, and major experience.
Example Two: The new chain.
This intrepid individual thought to save about $15.00 by learning to install a chain from the internet. After viewing the online the online tutorial, he purchased the chain from an online outlet. (It was the wrong chain for that driveline.) Then he bought a couple of tools from the same source. Equipped with all this new found stuff, he replaced his chain. The result? A trashed rear derailler, a seriously damaged rear wheel, a broken chain.
Cost?
Chain $18
Chain tool $20
Chain holder tool $10
Rear derailler f$150
Rear wheel $200
Total: $398 (plus tax) Experience: Priceless
Note: This was to “save” the expense of having the shop install the correct chain ($30 for the chain and $15 for the labor)
Example Three: The Home built wheel.
The internet made it look so easy! And the cost of a new wheel is so high. I can do it myself! That was the reasoning. So, after hours of struggling, this would-be wheel builder had something that actually looked like a wheel. It collapsed on the first ride. Fortunately the subject received relatively few injuries. Nothing a trip to the ER and some judicious stitching wouldn’t fix. Of course the wheel was a total loss, all parts damaged beyond recall, and the bike only needed a couple of hundred dollars or repair… and a new front wheel.
Experience is the best teacher, but she’s a mean one!
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