One of the great things about being a journalist is you can admit ignorance.

Well, maybe not ignorance, but it is OK to not know things. You can ask questions without feeling dumb.

People expect it of you and make allowances – although constant questioning may explain why surveys show journalists are unpopular.

What's so great about admitting ignorance?

Society is intolerant of people not knowing things.

Consequently too many adults are reluctant to admit to knowledge gaps. We feel the need to disguise our ignorance. And that's bad.

Needing to disguise ignorance is a particular problem for knowledge workers. Employers hire us for our expertise and insight. They may feel cheated when told: "I don't know" or "I'll find out".

Yet no-one can know everything – even in a narrow subject area.

Admitting you don't know is liberating. Being able to ask questions is liberating.

Asking people to explain what they mean when they say something strange or incomprehensible is liberating.

On the other hand, pretending to understand when you don't is stifling. And it's hard to learn new information when you are busy trying to hide your ignorance.

I make a point of asking questions even when I suspect I know the answer. It's the best way of learning new knowledge, even if it makes me sound like an inquisitive child.

And I never worry about appearing ignorant.