I thought it would be fun to list some of the strange ideas gardening "know-it-alls" have told us over the years.
So,
1. the one whose name shall not be stated told me i should plant my winter squash seedlings out in the garden now. It still freezes at night.
2. Watermelons should be ripe mid june, or i did something wrong. They also should be covered from the sun, or the sun makes mush of the insides. I have never seen a covered watermelon field.
Its especially irritating because i still have many gardening troubles. All of which is attributed to not listening to he who shall not be named.

It's so irritating to listen to an "expert" such as you've mentioned. Let's hope you aren't related to the "brainy one" and you can be left alone to do your best.

Well......i no longer ask for help unless i really cant move it etcetera. Because then it has to be done his way instead of mine. Like not taking the time to glue together the pvc pipe for the garden cage, which i wanted to do. NO, it will not come apart, (famous last words "i guarantee it) lets just put it up . So, the wind pulled it all apart, and its held together with electric tape.

Uh oh! I do think many of us go through scenarios like that. It's still annoying even though many have to endure it.

It is amazing how bulletproof some peoples' self-confidence is.

A friend recently found out that someone I was talking to worked in international finance and had several graduate degrees in the field. My friend proceeded to lecture the expert on how international finance really works ... my friend, who builds children's puppets and gives puppet shows.

When I give advice, I try to distinguish between

- "I've done it this way under these circumstances, with success",
or
- "I've read this suggestion in multiple places that seemed sensible and reliable"
or
- "Someone said this on the Internet, once"

There is the right way, the wrong way and HIS way....and we all know that the ONLY right way is HIS way

So true. Also, people who tell us all what we should be doing are matched in number by those who demand answers about their problems. From health questions when they meet a doctor, to garden questions from expert gardeners, and everything in between. Like dave and trish mentioned during the last podcast.

AND, you can be sure any suggestions given will be reported as wrong next time they meet.
AND, those people who gave unasked for advice that didnt work will never, never admit they were wrong.

Also, self-proclaimed-experts-without-a-clue tend to bellow their simplistic answers and sound absolutely certain of every syllable.

People who really know anything tend to speak softly, hedge their answers with qualifications and reservations, and spend more time drawing out details from the questioner than they spend preaching The Gospel According to SPEWAC.

That can be a problem if you ask someone who is TOO EXPERT. Their answers can be too complex to understand or remember. "Go not to the Elves for advice, for they will say both Yes and No."

Unasked-for advice is usually as wrong as it was unwanted.