Yesterday I talked to one or two people who didn't understand the code they were explaining to me. When you are in that situation you have a couple of choices.

1. Pretend you understand the code and use terms in your discussion that are sufficiently ambiguous that they may cover up your lack of understanding.
2. Tell me what you don't understand and ask for help in understanding it.

Don't use the first approach. For one thing it's dishonest. In effect you are lying to me since you are claiming to understand something you don't understand. In addition, it wastes my time. Not only does it waste my time, but you are deliberately choosing to waste my time. Lying to me and deliberately wasting my time are both extremely disrespectful. When you do that to me I lose respect for you and will be suspicious of everything you say to me from then on.

The second approach is fine. When you tell me you don't understand something I'll do my best to help you understand what's puzzling you. It will then be your job to think about what we discuss and explain it back to me in your own terms. The only requirement is that some time must pass (say an hour or more) between the time I help you understand the code and the time you explain it back to me. When you are honest with me, I have more respect for you, and I am more willing to help you as best I can.