> we realize nobody knows what they're talking about.

And here is precisely why you should read, because you obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Sure, nobody's omniscient, nobody can have perfect knowledge of even one subject. But not everyone is equal - there are some people who know more than others. Typically, those who know more are those who read more, and it's not just by reading better material (here's where paying for content is really a good idea), but by reading all sorts of stuff, including the bad and just plain wrong, and being able to recognize it for what it is.

And yes, I know the inevitable comeback will be "but how do I know the bad from the good?" and the answer is again reading, but also being humble and taking advice from those more knowledgeable than you, and reading what they recommend. Hell, one of the best recommendations I ever had was to read Rippetoe's "Starting Strength" and that came from HN. I've also found that if I get a lot out of a book, the best thing to do is follow up on it's sources. Bibliographies are highly under rated.

And then there's the other standard reply that gets trotted out: "I don't have enough time". Really? How much time do you spend watching TV (including streaming)? How much time do you spend playing video games? How much time do you spend reading "free" content that's only written to sell your eyeballs instead of reading something you paid for, written by a knowledgeable author?

Not all content is created equal.