You ‘will’ get things wrong. Everyone who says anything about anything gets something wrong. The problem isn’t that. The problem is bad-faith people. People with good-faith do their best, correct what’s wrong, and apologize. That’s all anyone can expect.
To this, I would add that people are quite aware you aren't presenting yourself as an *expert* on these topics. You are relaying things of interest historically in a light and interesting fashion. If you screw up, as long as it isn't intentional, most people should be forgiving.
Plus, you said you were reading Wikipedia entries about history. So isn't the History Prof's issue with Wikipedia? Maybe they should go fix the entry, rather than being a dick to a parasocial.
It was a bit of that and a bit of me straight misreading a word that lead to me misunderstanding a timeline by a few decades. I felt pretty dumb once I went back and checked my work.
So you own the fuck up and move on. I get the argument of "if you are going to do something, do it right or don't do it at all" (thanks John Wooden)... But that just means working to fix your mistakes. It's about focus and devotion to craft and action, not telling people to stop doing stuff.
Messing up and making mistakes aren't stupidity. Those are literally the primary way in which we learn. You screw up and course correct. Stupidity is essentially the inability to process or learn from one's mistakes. If you make a sincere effort to correct an honest mistake - that isn't stupid.
I will continue the thread but I will keep it top of mind to try and be more careful, as I am only qualified to be a silly goose.
Last thing I'll say, but don't be too hard on yourself. You started in 499 BC and made it to 442? One mistake in 58 posts is an error rate of 1.7%. I think that's pretty good. You can get better I am sure, but that isn't remotely problematic.
I mean, there are likely tonnes of mistakes. It's just only one expert in their field has turned up so far. I'm nervous to continue to say the least. I was at the best of times a B student. I've gotten by in life on being moderately endearing, not smarts.
Whenever I feel out of my depth, I remember that NASA crashed a spaceship because literal rocket scientists forgot to double check which units of measure they were using in the specs. I've been enjoying the daily journey so far. Thanks for sharing it.
You are looking stuff up on Wikipedia and sharing it with your followers (people who find your account interesting enough to pay attention to you). I think if the responses are mainly positive (and what I've seen is positive), focus on that.
Also - part of learning is fucking up. It's the worst part, but it's a crucial one. Fuck that prof who gave you a hard time. That's some shit.
I think I'm a little sensitive to how unacademic I am? I know I didn't go to university and before that I wasn't exactly the best student. I've been good at one thing in my life and thankfully made a career out of it. Beyond that, I'm lost.
You come across as well spoken, literate and articulate... So your self perception is underselling your abilities. Academia confers a weird sense of overconfidence at times - in the last 30 years the % of the population going to University has increased drastically, yet Canada isn't vastly smarter.
I've been impressed at the learning you're showing. It's hard to learn something by yourself. In an academic setting you have classmates to collaborate with.
I've continued on to 441 BC. You've convinced me (as well as made me slightly weepy.)
I’m happy for it. Never forget Alice, you’re a writer, an actor, a comedian among other things. Converting historical and present day experiences into stories / jokes / tidbits of information for people is YOUR expertise. Don’t let the HHD3s of the world shit on it.
Us so called experts can provide good-faith feedback in areas of our expertise. But within reason. You’re not coming into our mentions and telling us to fuck off because we suck at communicating in an entertaining fashion.
I, for one, am very grateful that @alicemoran.bsky.social doesn’t get into my replies to let me know how bad my attempts to be funny about Canadian politics are.
I don’t know if these last two came across as condescending but I meant it as supportive and complimentary of your skillset!
Not condescending at all! Sorry, I'm actually worse at receiving compliments than I am criticism. I never know what to say.
You and me both friend.
🫡