Connecting the dots

Reading John Scalzi's post about people who are unaware that they are incompetent, and the New York Times article he references, reminded me of two things:

1. The American Idol auditions. People who can't sing, and are not only told they can't sing, but told by judges with enough experience in the music industry that you'd expect they'd know what they were talking about: yet some of those Idol-hopefuls still refuse to believe the judges when told they simply can't sing.


2. The old Arabic proverb.
   He who knows and knows he knows,
   He is wise; follow him.
   He who knows not and knows he knows not,
   He is a child; teach him.
   He who knows and knows not he knows,
   He is asleep; wake him.
   He who knows not and knows not he knows not,
   He is a fool; shun him!