When You Don’t Even Know What You Don’t Know

We are at university. My friend is hoping to arrange an industrial placement, but the start of the academic year is looming.

Me: “Have you arranged where you’ll be staying next year?”

Friend: “No, not yet.”

Me: “What about [Landlord]?”

Friend: “No, I can’t speak to them yet as I don’t know yet.”

Me: “What about when you do know?”

Friend: “Well, I don’t know when I’ll know, so I can’t say whether or not I’ll know.”

Me: “That’s a lot of ignorance.”

Friend: “There’s not a lot I can do about that.”

Me: “I know.”

Friend: “I don’t.”

Me: “I know.”

Friend: “Wah!”

A few months later

Me: “I mentioned that conversation about ‘That’s a lot of ignorance’ to [His Housemate]. He said it was very like you.”

Friend: “Well, yes, that’s because it was me.”