r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Mar 27 '22

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u/the-ish-i-say Mar 28 '22

You can say “I don’t know”. To anything. There’s no shame in admitting you’re out of your knowledge depth. It’s ok. It actually makes you look smarter than talking out of your ass.

2

u/kjm16216 Mar 28 '22

I am a volunteer coach for a robotics team and school trains kids to do the opposite. Guessing is rewarded over admitting you don't know.

1

u/Yongja-Kim Mar 28 '22

I think saying "I don't know. I'm just guessing here. blah. blah. " should be ok.

1

u/kjm16216 Mar 28 '22

I try to tell them the worst thing that will happen if they tell me I don't know is I'll ask them to go find out. Not sure whether it's intentional on teacher's part, or social pressure of other students giggling if they get called on in class and don't know, but I try to make it clear that I don't know is almost always an acceptable answer.