Rusty Burlew has written an excellent article in the April American Bee Journal titled "Beekeepers and the Dunning-Kruger Effect: Unskilled and Unaware."
The article resonates with me. When I first began my beekeeping journey back in the 1970's, older grey haired beekeepers were looked upon with
respect and newer beekeepers were eager to hear what they had to say.
That's not so much the case today. Too many newbees take a beginning class, successfully navigate a couple of seasons and then suddenly become experts.
They often reject the idea of subscribing to the bee journals or reading books by respected authors, looking down upon those of us who suggest they do so as they roll their eyes.
They see us as dinosaurs. They are Internet beekeepers who have no frame of reference to distinguish the good stuff from the drivel by others who also think they are experts.
I'm sad to say that since beekeeping has gone mainstream, I find myself swimming upstream to get away from what it has created.
The article resonates with me. When I first began my beekeeping journey back in the 1970's, older grey haired beekeepers were looked upon with
respect and newer beekeepers were eager to hear what they had to say.
That's not so much the case today. Too many newbees take a beginning class, successfully navigate a couple of seasons and then suddenly become experts.
They often reject the idea of subscribing to the bee journals or reading books by respected authors, looking down upon those of us who suggest they do so as they roll their eyes.
They see us as dinosaurs. They are Internet beekeepers who have no frame of reference to distinguish the good stuff from the drivel by others who also think they are experts.
I'm sad to say that since beekeeping has gone mainstream, I find myself swimming upstream to get away from what it has created.