in reply to Insular Assumptions About Intelligence
Similarly, one anonymous monk may know sufficiently much about posting to a web site to be able to reply to you and yet not know enough about other things to be able to realize that their "sock puppet" accusation is ridiculous. :)
I frequently interview experienced programers who have made it past several layers of vetting in the hopes of hiring them for the position of "Senior Perl Developer". Even in that environment, knowledge of Perl (much less advanced knowledge of Perl) is not assumed.
Also, a not-insignificant portion of many of my work days is spent in activities that are primarily motivated by a likelihood of me discovering things of which I have never before heard.
- tye