If You Don’t Know…

A writer asked me publicly
if there was a market
for a certain type of story
in my specific niche.

They looked to me
as an expert.

I didn’t know
if there was a market
so I said…
Exactly that.
“I don’t know.”

Some commenters mocked me.
Some questioned my expertise.

They’re dumba$$es.
I ignored them.

Because no one,
including experts,
knows everything about their field.

No one
has all the answers.

Making sh*t up
to appease the dumba$$es
makes us look like idiots
to knowledgeable people
and erodes our stances
as experts in our own fields.

Say “I don’t know”
if you don’t know.

If The Reason For The Question Is Unclear

Yesterday,
someone on social media
contacted me
via email
(which can be creepy as hell
on its own)
and asked
what my educational background was.

That’s all they wrote.
They didn’t explain why
they cared.
They didn’t explain
who they were.
They didn’t explain
how they were using
that information.

I don’t plan
to respond to them.

Because I don’t know
why they need that information
or
how they plan to use it.

And in today’s world,
their reason for asking
that question
is more likely to hurt me
in some way
than to benefit anyone.

If you want answers,
explain why you’re asking the questions
and what you’re using
the information for.

If you’re being asked questions,
be very cautious
about responding
if the askers
aren’t open about how
they’re using your responses.