Comments on: Epistemology and impostor syndrome

By: Mackenzie

Mackenzie — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:26:39 +0000

hehe Yeah that sounds like me. “I’ve only been using Linux for 3 years. These other people have used Linux for 7-10 years and UNIX for 5 years before THAT! They’re all gonna think I’m a newb.”

By: Marisa

Marisa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:31:24 +0000

Seemingly absent here is the time factor. “I haven’t put enough time in at this job to be respected.” or “I don’t have enough job experiences in my past to be worthy of this job… it must be a fluke.” It seems to me that ‘men’ are more likely to accept getting a position based on flukes or friends, and ‘women’ are much more focused on getting the acknowledgement “for the right reasons.”

By: Bene

Bene — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:37:21 +0000

Oh, I agree entirely. So many things are ‘anybody could do that, I’m not that great’.

This is a terribly useful post, actually; I’m glad the phenomenon’s been noticed.

By: Attie

Attie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:29:43 +0000

OH GOD IT’S NOT JUST ME!

Sorry, having a random moment of self-revelation here. (While procrastinating from writing a paper because clearly, all my results are worthless and my work is absolutely ridiculously little for the time I spent on it.)

By: spz

spz — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:40:44 +0000

I have to agree. The way I see it “I’m only cooking with water”.
But at least I use a pot. And water.
Whereas all too many others don’t even manage -that- (and still get paid for their efforts). :7

By: Liz

Liz — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:13:14 +0000

So, Impostermology? 8-)

I find that it is not really a once and for all “getting over it” but a continual struggle.

By: Asad

Asad — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:02:25 +0000

I’m not sure that definition of Impostor Syndrome makes sense, because

a) chances are you (generic “you,” including me) really are where you are mostly because of a cosmic accident/Providence

b) there probably really are people who are much smarter than you

and

c) there probably really are people who are successfuller than you

so having such a sense is quite justified for 99.9% of the human race.

I think the right way to think about it is that if *you* are an impostor, then by the same measure, so are the vast majority of people who’ve received even a modicum of similar success. Including the really confident people. Actually, especially the really confident people.