"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" - agree?

I agree that it can be, but is not necessarily. You see it all of the time on this site. Someone reads the definition of a mental disorder and all of sudden they are a psychologist diagnosing whining posters. Or the guy who sues in small claims court is all of the sudden an attorney giving legal advice.

No, I don’t agree.

The knowledge itself isn’t the dangerous thing, it’s what people do with it that can be problematic.

The knowledge itself doesn’t force anyone to make assumptions or inappropriate generalisations, it doesn’t force people to fret or be anxious or catastrophise, it doesn’t make people think they know more than they actually do, and so on.

It’s entirely about what you do with any knowledge or information, and how you receive it, that determines whether the outcome of acquiring that information is positive, negative, or has no obvious effect. Obviously, there are big individual differences in the way people handle the information they receive, and I believe it’s these differences, rather than the information itself, that causes the potential “dangerousness” you describe.

I am not pointing fingers here but almost every political question/thread here is a good example of your question Zen.

@Cruiser It’s not just the political ones.

@perspicacious of course I could have listed them all but chose IMO the most egregious one!

@reverie Now that I do agree with.

@perspicacious But that’s different – because he is giving an opinion – and it doesn’t hurt anyone.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, by definition, causes pain, anguish, hurt – distaster.

If you ask in fluther “Oh what should I do – am I bi-polar” – and someone who has googled the subject suggests to take Lithium and the exact amounts without going to see a Psychiatrist – that would be a dangerous thing.

N’est ce pas?

Edit: @cruiser and reverie and persp (edited, forgive the misspeling, if any) – I don’t think you can “disagree” with a saying or proverb.

I understand what you mean, @reverie, but the idea of the proverb, and of my question, is when and where have you encountered something dangerous happening as a result of a little knowledge – not a chance to “get back at me” about politics.

Politics, as a matter of fact, is a really bad example. We, in democracies, elect our officials who then represent us. By discussing things in a forum, we learn about other persepctives and thoughts. How is that dangerous?

By the way, those of you who still haven’t gotten it: I’m in Israel. I actually live the things I talk about. Am I biased? Sure. Is this dangerous to me or someone? I don’t think that has anything to do with the old proverb.

Only in an unfinished bridge sort of way. A little knowledge is like a little ice cream it leaves you hungry for more.

Meaning

A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.

Origin

First used by Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744) in An Essay on Criticism, 1709:

“A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again.”

@zenele I’ve read what you’ve written above a few times and I’m afraid I’m really baffled by your answer! I’ve probably got the wrong end of the stick, but I can’t recall ever interacting with you on Fluther, and I can’t recall whether or not I’ve responded to any of your questions before, so I’m really confused about what you mean about “getting back at you” about politics? I understand that your question title (do you agree with this saying) asked something a little different from the question description (give an example of the way the saying applies to a real situation), and so I just answered the question based on what you wrote in the title, because I thought that was what you were interested in. In any case, is there any possibility you’re mixing me up with someone else? My response above was just responding to your question at face value (i.e., whether we agree with the statement that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”). Your description didn’t indicate that you were thinking of any specific situations, so I just answered in an equally general way. I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I’ve no idea who you are (I don’t really know anyone on Fluther at all!), and can’t call to mind any questions you’ve asked, so honestly, what you’re saying to those people who “still haven’t gotten it” about being in Israel and doesn’t make any sense to me, I’m afraid!

@reverie K.