Understanding a concept doesn't make you a genius

12 Dec, 2025

We have Bob
Bob is into design
Bob learns about Doherty Threshold
Doherty Threshold - "Productivity soars when a computer and its users interact at a pace (<400ms) that ensures that neither has to wait on the other."

The next time Bob notices a laggy app,
he suggests we need to follow Doherty Threshold
The team asks what Doherty Threshold is
Bob explains pretentiously
Bob feels smart

Like Bob, there are a lot of people in the tech world who go and learn a couple of concepts and fancy terms. They casually slip them out when talking. Does that make them smart? No, not really. I'm not saying it's wrong to know things, but being pretentious about it is stupid.

It is very easy to gauge how good someone is on a subject. You just see their work. Work reflects skill. Just because I know how to drive a car, it doesn't make me an automobile expert. Understanding a concept doesn't make you a genius; it just shows you're a functioning human with a brain.