“知識付費”繁榮的背后

∷杜承陽

近年來，號稱“知識付費”的產品層出不窮，“知識付費”甚至被推崇為一種時尚的生活方式。然而，值得思考的是，這股狂熱從何而來？付費之后，又有幾人真正學到了知識，獲得了自我成長呢？

Have you ever paid for educational podcasts or live videos?Ask a woman on the street and the chances are high that1. the chances are high that: 很有可能是。she will say yes. These years has seen China's ride on the crest of a trend—“paying for knowledge,” an emergent economy enjoying its popularity in its prosperity.2. on the crest of: ……處于最得意的時候；emergent: 新興的。The content of its products ranges from economics, psychology, and fi nance to skills of talking,body-building, and baby-caring. The compass is so overarching that everything one possibly thinks of or something never occurs to one's mind is probably on platforms online right at this moment.3. compass: 范圍；overarching:包羅萬象的。

Then what accounts for this craze4. craze: 狂熱。on “knowledge”? First of all,the Internet serves as a precondition.5. serve as: 發揮……的作用；precondition: 前提，先決條件。Compared with traditional business models, online business has toppled the tyranny of space and the barriers to entry are much lowered.6. 不同于傳統的商業模式，線上商業打破了空間的限制，市場準入門檻也大大降低了。topple:顛覆；tyranny: 控制，限制；barriers to entry:【經】市場準入門檻，行業準入壁壘。With a fast network and a smartphone, anyone having passed the identity check upon online platforms can apply to be an online teacher, and anyone with an online account can pay for “knowledge products” he/she wants at an affordable price.7. identity check: 身份驗證；affordable: 支付得起的。Meanwhile, in this age of information, a fear of missing out is generated by information explosion and information asymmetry.8. miss out: 錯失；information explosion:信息爆炸，指現代信息或數據數量的急速增加及其帶來的影響；information asymmetry:【經】信息不對稱，指在市場經濟條件下，市場的買賣主體不可能完全占有對方的信息，這種信息不對稱必定導致信息擁有方為謀取自身更大的利益而使另一方的利益受損。On one hand, there is ever more desire for focused information that is useful and relevant. On the other hand, such information is usually at the hands of professionals and experts serving well-known companies and schools with high walls. Together, the significance of being well-informed9. well-informed: 見多識廣的，消息靈通的。stands out. Moreover, the need to update skills constantly in this growingly competitive job market also pushes the mode10hard. Confronted with a higher level of requirements of institutions, not a few candidates and employees feel the threat of being replaced, thereby yearning for11. yearn for: 渴望，切盼。seeking a better self.

Admittedly, this “knowledge-based” payment fashion has proved to be lucrative.12. admittedly: 不可否認地；lucrative:生利的，賺錢的。With regard to the whole society, information is motivated to fl ow relatively free and, to some extent, monopoly13. monopoly: 壟斷。of information is broken. Besides, as a nascent industry, this economy instills vigor into the development of our country.14. 另外，作為一種新興產業，這一經濟模式為我國的發展注入了活力。nascent:初生的，新生的。Sellers can reap15. reap: 獲得，收獲。rich profits from it; buyers can enjoy self-growth and a broader horizon.Plus, this is also a ref l ection of respect for knowledge and talents. It promises possibilities of turning information into income.

As with all the fl edgling industry, however, the “pay-for-knowledge”boom betrays a few problems.16. fl edgling: 新興的；betray: （非故意地）暴露，顯露。For one thing, the market is awash with exaggerated slogans such as “How to Be an Industry's Elite in 5 Hours” and “15 Classes to Be a Master of Appreciating Classical Music,”17. be awash with: 充斥著，泛濫；slogan: 標語，廣告語；elite: 精英。which sound like once you pay for it, you are sure to succeed immediately. Also, most “knowledge” products cannot be counted as knowledge at all. They are at most media of information. For another,a host of18. a host of: 一大群，許多。consumers believe such nonsense and buy them just for showing off. It is a pity for them not to perceive that in essence, to digest knowledge-based commodities requires an enduring investment of time and energy, as well as the ability to discern the quality and to learn by oneself.19. in essence: 本質上，實質上；digest:（經反復思考）吸收，領悟；commodity: 商品；discern: 識別。Consequently, a paradox is noteworthy:20paradox: 悖論；noteworthy: 值得注意的，顯著的。Those who have really obtained self-growth after buying online classes are probably the kind of people who need them least. In other words, with or without these classes, they can make it21. make it: 達到預定目標，成功。anyway, because they are people capable of learning by themselves.

On balance, the best is the one that suits you best. Knowledge-based payment should be used as a good start for individual exploration rather than a clutch at straws22. a clutch at straws: （落水者）抓救命稻草，形容（為求脫離危境等）作最后的絕望掙扎。to save your life. Be careful. Otherwise,great expectations may turn out to be dashed23. dashed: 破滅的，落空的。dreams.