About Polyquisitive

I’ve started writing this page to answer the question, “What is this blog about?”, but I think perhaps a better place to start might be, “What does polyquisitive mean?”. If I answer that question with some amount of accuracy, I think the former question - this blog’s purpose - may extend naturally. Put simply, I am polyquisitive - it’s a term I’ve coined, and one that resonates with me and some of my quirks that have been more elusive to describe.

You may recognize the fairly obvious combination of the prefix poly- (meaning many, much, multi-) and the word inquisitive (meaning inclined to investigate, eager for knowledge). Combined, these produce an overloaded term. Inquisitive on its own already gives off a sense of broad curiosity. You would expect to find an inquisitive fellow with their nose in many books, or asking one too many questions about the process of one’s craft. That inquisitiveness, though, is a passive trait - the tendency towards excessive questioning extends only to topics in which our inquisitive character finds natural interest.

A polyquisitive person, though, pushes that tendency to its extreme. As a guiding principle - perhaps even a pillar of their character, or a foundational value - they seek out new topics to pursue, with interest being only a tangential filter. At the heart of polyquisitiveness is a sense of balance - a recognition of the rich diversity of knowledge available, and a desire to have a mutual depth of understanding in as many domains as possible. An over-investment in any particular category of knowledge comes at the cost of another, and risks a niche expertise (a focus on technology begets nerds, fiberworks begets crafters, or music begets melophiles). As a part of polyquisitive tendencies, a person might recognize the scales tipping too far towards one topic, and intentionally find a new niche to pursue.

With each new endeavor they don’t take just a passing glance. They engage fully, and investigate thoroughly. The goal is not mastery of any particular subject, but knowledge - a clear vision of the intricacies, interests, and methods that a master would hone. For instance, a polyquisitive engaged in woodworking may be able to host a lively debate on the merits of various joinery techniques, but would lack the necessary muscle memory to execute even the most simple style. Not to say they never could, or never will be able to - some endeavors may warrant a stronger thrust towards mastery. Often, though, those skills atrophy due to the distraction of something new.

And as such, this blog will be a chronicling of my polyquisitive experience. It is impossible to say up front what content will end up here; it is my sincerest hope that the most interesting things I pursue are not yet even a figment of my imagination. That said, you can expect a journey through many disparate domains, I expect ranging at least as far as psychology is from rock climbing, or lockpicking is from sex. Some of these writings will be reflections on my past passions, and some will be live-action tellings of my current endeavors. Either way, I hope you find them interesting, and you enjoy this pursuit of knowledge with me.