Sometimes I Take Knowledge For Granted

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and found yourself saying something like, "How could you not know that?" or "That's so basic, everyone knows that!" It's easy to take our own knowledge for granted and assume that everyone else knows the same things that we do. I did it—check that, DO IT—fairly regularly, according to my wife, Allison.

But the truth is, we all have different life experiences and levels of education, and what is basic knowledge for one person may be completely new information for another. In this age of information overload, it can be difficult to keep track of everything we learn and remember. It's important to be mindful of the fact that not everyone has the same background or access to information as we do.

The Facebook Ad Library Wake-Up Call

Case in point: I recently talked with a friend who didn't know about Facebook's Ad Library. For those who aren't familiar, the Ad Library is a resource that allows anyone to see any ads that are currently running on Facebook or Instagram. This includes ads from politicians, businesses, and other organizations.

My friend wanted to show me an ad from an heirloom seed company that she thought was really cool, but she didn't know how to find it or show it to me. I was surprised that she had never heard of the Ad Library, as I had always assumed that it was a well-known platform feature.

But as I thought about it, I realized that not everyone spends as much time on social media as I do, and not everyone is interested in the same topics that I am. It's entirely possible that my friend simply hadn't come across the Ad Library in her own browsing and had never felt the need to find an ad again. After all, I am the ad nerd, not her.

What This Taught Me About Assumptions

This experience reminded me of the importance of not taking knowledge for granted and assuming that everyone else knows the same things I do. It reminded me to be more conscious of the fact that not everyone has the same level of familiarity with a topic, and to be patient and understanding when someone is seeking information that may seem basic to us.

We Can All Learn From Each Other

It's also important to remember that we can all learn from one another, regardless of our backgrounds or levels of knowledge. We can all benefit from asking questions and seeking out new information, and there is value in sharing what we know with others, like I am sharing with this blog and video.

The next time you think, "How could they not know that?" take a moment to consider the different life experiences and knowledge bases that people bring to the table. And remember that we can all learn from one another, and that it's okay not to know everything… although I think I pretty much already do. 😜