Learning in public, as discussed in Giles Thomas's post, offers numerous benefits revolving around accelerated learning and career advancement. By sharing your learning journey, you solidify your understanding through articulation and receive valuable feedback from others. This process also builds a portfolio showcasing your skills and progress, attracting potential collaborators and employers. The act of teaching, inherent in public learning, further cements knowledge and establishes you as a credible resource within your field. Finally, the connections forged through shared learning experiences expand your network and open doors to new opportunities.
In his February 23rd, 2025 blog post entitled "TIL Deep Dive Posts," Giles Thomas meticulously explores the multifaceted advantages of engaging in the practice of public learning, which he characterizes as openly sharing one's intellectual journey, including the acquisition of new knowledge, the exploration of novel concepts, and the development of nascent skills, within the readily accessible realm of the internet. Thomas posits that this method of learning, while potentially exposing one to scrutiny, ultimately yields a plethora of benefits that significantly outweigh any perceived drawbacks.
He elaborates on these benefits with a considerable degree of detail, beginning with the amplification of learning itself. By articulating one's understanding in a public forum, the learner is compelled to solidify their grasp of the subject matter, clarifying ambiguous points and identifying gaps in their comprehension. This act of externalization forces a deeper cognitive processing of the information, leading to enhanced retention and a more nuanced understanding.
Further enriching this learning amplification is the potential for engagement with a wider audience. Publishing one's learning journey online opens the door to constructive feedback, diverse perspectives, and insightful critiques from individuals across a spectrum of backgrounds and expertise. This collaborative aspect not only corrects errors and misconceptions but also introduces the learner to new avenues of inquiry and alternative interpretations they may not have considered independently. This crowdsourced form of intellectual refinement accelerates the learning process and fosters a more robust and well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand.
Beyond the immediate learning benefits, Thomas also emphasizes the long-term advantages of building a public learning portfolio. This documented history of intellectual exploration serves as a tangible record of one's progress, showcasing their evolving skills and deepening expertise over time. This portfolio can be invaluable for professional development, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning and providing concrete evidence of one's capabilities. Furthermore, it fosters a sense of personal accountability, motivating the learner to maintain consistency in their intellectual pursuits.
Finally, Thomas underscores the community-building aspect of public learning. By sharing their journey openly, learners inadvertently create a locus for individuals with shared interests to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate. This fosters a sense of intellectual camaraderie and creates a supportive environment where learners can encourage and inspire one another. This network effect not only enriches the individual learning experience but also contributes to the collective advancement of knowledge within the broader community. In essence, public learning, as articulated by Thomas, transcends the individual and becomes a collaborative endeavor, benefiting both the learner and the wider intellectual ecosystem.
Summary of Comments ( 81 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43154666
Hacker News users generally agreed with the author's premise about the benefits of learning in public. Several commenters shared personal anecdotes of how publicly documenting their learning journeys, even if imperfectly, led to unexpected connections, valuable feedback, and career opportunities. Some highlighted the importance of focusing on the process over the outcome, emphasizing that consistent effort and genuine curiosity are more impactful than polished perfection. A few cautioned against overthinking or being overly concerned with external validation, suggesting that the primary focus should remain on personal growth. One user pointed out the potential negative aspect of focusing solely on maximizing output for external gains and advocated for intrinsic motivation as a more sustainable driver. The discussion also briefly touched upon the discoverability of older "deep dive" posts, suggesting their enduring value even years later.
The Hacker News post "The benefits of learning in public" (linking to an article about the same topic) generated a moderate amount of discussion with 14 comments. Several commenters agreed with the premise of learning in public and shared their own positive experiences.
One commenter discussed how publicly documenting their learning journey with Go helped them attract job offers, even before they considered themselves proficient. They highlighted the value of demonstrating a willingness to learn and the process of thinking through problems publicly. This resonates with the article's point about the benefits extending beyond pure knowledge acquisition.
Another commenter echoed this sentiment, mentioning that sharing their learning process for Rust attracted positive attention from potential employers. They emphasized the importance of showing progress and the ability to articulate one's thinking. This reinforces the idea that learning in public signals valuable traits to potential employers.
One commenter cautioned that the benefits of learning in public might be field-dependent. They suggested it could be more advantageous in fast-moving fields where demonstrating continuous learning is highly valued. This adds a nuance to the discussion, acknowledging that the strategy might not be equally effective in all domains.
Another commenter highlighted the motivational aspect of learning in public, explaining that the social pressure encourages consistency. They also mentioned the benefit of receiving feedback and different perspectives. This adds another layer to the benefits, moving beyond career advantages and touching upon the personal drive to learn and improve.
A further commenter pointed out the benefit of building an audience, which can lead to serendipitous opportunities. They mentioned an example of getting a book deal through their public learning efforts. This showcases an unexpected but potentially significant advantage of sharing one's learning journey.
A few comments were shorter and generally supportive of the concept. Some also provided anecdotal evidence of positive outcomes from learning in public, such as improved learning retention and unexpected collaborations. While not as detailed as the other comments, they contribute to a general consensus in favor of the practice.
Overall, the comments on Hacker News largely reinforce the benefits of learning in public highlighted in the linked article, with commenters sharing personal anecdotes and expanding on the advantages, such as attracting job opportunities, enhancing motivation, and fostering unexpected collaborations. They also add some nuance, suggesting that the effectiveness might vary depending on the field.