Some people are good at explaining things with metaphors. They can break complicated things down into smaller pieces of wits, grasp the logic behind it, and plant it into easier real-life examples, or both.
If you can see through the tricks, you’ll see if people really know their stuff.
The best way to explain tricky things is starting with simple metaphors that everyone can comprehend. You have to know it inside out before you can break it down into smaller but relevant points that support the big picture, and then you can use proper metaphors to tell others about it.
My acid test method: try to explain something new to the elders or minors with metaphors or examples in your mother tongue without using convenient jargons.
Real knowledgeables can switch between simple and complex metaphors depending on who they're talking to. They know when to break out the fancy comparisons and when to keep things basic.
Some people are good at explaining things with metaphors, but some are not. My theory is that you can still convey concepts you don’t really understand purely with verbal skills, but you can hardly come up with ad hoc examples to explain them properly.
That means you can tell if someone is proficient on a certain topic by observing how they use metaphors or examples to support the assertions.
People with limited domain knowledge tend to use their personal experience to rationalize themselves. Personal experience is valuable, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. Trying to explain quantum physics or geopolitics based solely on the experience of living in a small mental town just won’t cut it.
The idea works both ways. When you’re learning something, try to catch the principles through metaphors, if there are any; try to explain it to others with legit metaphors to see if you have successfully internalized it, and train yourself for the ability to develop and use more sophisticated metaphors for better communication.
When communicating with someone, try to grasp their rationale behind the words and see if they are agreeable and what’s under the mental carpet.
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