Self Appointed Experts

[Sister Fracas 5]

*wonders who Rebecca means* hehehe

I'm an expert on ME, even though numerous people will claim they know me and "my kind" all the time.

Just ME? Or ME/NA?

hehe... nope, can't say I know ME/NA well enough to be an expert.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There was also the "classic" thread on celebrity politics a while back where it was suggested that film actors and musicians aren't "qualified" to offer political opinions.

It was never established how a person becomes "qualified".

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

There was also the "classic" thread on celebrity politics a while back where it was suggested that film actors and musicians aren't "qualified" to offer political opinions.

It was never established how a person becomes "qualified".

That is to be discussed in the self-appointed judges thread.

[DeadPoolX 9]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion - nor does the having of an opinion make a person an expert on a given subject.

Even if you work in an area (including the military, or law enforcement) that experience doesn't preclude a person from being bad at it, having an open-minded - or otherwise generally lacking in common sense.

I agree. But I think issues sometimes arise when non-experts (i.e. amateurs) decide they know as much or even more than those who do whatever they're currently talking about for a living.

Take the military for example. I have never been in any branch of the armed forces, but I do know a lot about military history, weaponry and vehicles. Does that mean I'm as qualified to make a military-oriented decision as a professional soldier? No, of course not. Knowing about something or how to do it does not in any way equate with being able to do it.

Technically speaking, I know how to fly an airplane. I probably have more knowledge about aircraft and flight than most beginner pilots (and maybe even a few veteran ones). None of that means I could actually fly a plane, since I lack the necessary flight education and training to do so.

I'm not sure these threads get down to that level of specificity, to be honest.

Only examples I can think of offhand is the tasering incident in the college last year where people were actually defending what looked to most people on video like shocking police brutality. I don't care whether someone works in the police force or not, they're not going to convince me that its justifiable.

There was also the thread from last year about the British sailors who were captured by the Iranians - who should have (apparently) fought their way out of the situation, rather than allow themselves to be taken. You don't have to be in the military to find that reasoning rather suspect.

I think a lot of people get their ideas from Hollywood. It's rather sad, but there is a large percentage of people in the U.S. (and the world) who really do believe that real life can work the same way as many television shows and movies.

What many don't seem to realize is that realism (at least extreme realism) can be boring sometimes. Take any police TV show or movie. How often do we see cops getting in desperate shootouts or busting up some large international terrorist/slave/prostitution/etc organization. The real life of a police officer is, for the most part, far less dramatic and entertaining. Some of those things can occur, but nowhere near as frequently. How many viewers would really be interested in watching a detective write and file reports for most of his day? Probably not too many, which explains why the excitement is ramped up.

Edited May 14, 2008 by DeadPoolX

[Krikit 1,164]

I think a lot of people get their ideas from Hollywood. It's rather sad, but there is a large percentage of people in the U.S. (and the world) who really do believe that real life can work the same way as many television shows and movies.

What many don't seem to realize is that realism (at least extreme realism) can be boring sometimes. Take any police TV show or movie. How often do we see cops getting in desperate shootouts or busting up some large international terrorist/slave/prostitution/etc organization. The real life of a police officer is, for the most part, far less dramatic and entertaining. Some of those things can occur, but nowhere near as frequently. How many viewers would really be interested in watching a detective write and file reports for most of his day? Probably not too many, which explains why the excitement is ramped up.

My cop friend says that police work is 95% drudgery and 5% sheer terror.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Can you be an expert on, say, a certain area of the country if you haven't lived there?

On a certain occupation if you've never worked in it?

On the 'norms' of a certain culture if you've never experienced them, or visited that country?

What about linguists? College Graduate learning about the Mayans, Aztecs, Ancient Civilization. No one was there, and there are experts.

The answer to your question is CONTEXT!

[rebeccajo 14]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion.

That's pretty obvious. More so to some than others, apparently.

It's quite all right to have an opinion.

It's quite rude to insist you're right when your opinion is questioned by someone who is more qualified to state facts.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion.

That's pretty obvious. More so to some than others, apparently.

It's quite all right to have an opinion.

It's quite rude to insist you're right when your opinion is questioned by someone who is more qualified to state facts.

Facts - certainly. But more often than not it seems to come down to opinions which are not necessarily any more informed than Joe Public.

[Niels Bohr 72]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion.

That's pretty obvious. More so to some than others, apparently.

It's quite all right to have an opinion.

It's quite rude to insist you're right when your opinion is questioned by someone who is more qualified to state facts.

I think everyon does that several time in their life. Knowing a little bit of something, and then try to fit in with everybody else who is more familiar with the topic. Local Cops, lower level business employees trying to understand why there's hr policies, etc...

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion.

That's pretty obvious. More so to some than others, apparently.

It's quite all right to have an opinion.

It's quite rude to insist you're right when your opinion is questioned by someone who is more qualified to state facts.

like about guns?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion.

That's pretty obvious. More so to some than others, apparently.

It's quite all right to have an opinion.

It's quite rude to insist you're right when your opinion is questioned by someone who is more qualified to state facts.

Again, we should leave this debate to the "self appointed judges" thread.

[Sister Fracas 5]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion.

That's pretty obvious. More so to some than others, apparently.

It's quite all right to have an opinion.

It's quite rude to insist you're right when your opinion is questioned by someone who is more qualified to state facts.

like about guns?

give it up already...you are never going to convince Rebecca to keep a gun in her house or run around carrying one. The fact that she isn't comfortable with them is MORE the reason she shouldn't have one in her house or on her person.

Edited May 14, 2008 by Sister Fracas

[Sinergy 3]

I agree with what rebecca is getting at

I also think there are too many ppl on VJ who think they are more know-it-all's than they really are.

Some ppl just have to be right for the sake of being right.

Edited May 14, 2008 by Sinergy

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

You don't have to be an expert to have an opinion.

That's pretty obvious. More so to some than others, apparently.

It's quite all right to have an opinion.

It's quite rude to insist you're right when your opinion is questioned by someone who is more qualified to state facts.

like about guns?

give it up already...you are never going to convince Rebecca to keep a gun in her house or run around carrying one. The fact that she isn't comfortable with them is MORE the reason she shouldn't have one in her house or on her person.

i'm still waiting for her pm about this

[brnidokiegurl 0]

I agree with what rebecca is getting at

I also think there are too many ppl on VJ who think they are more know-it-all's than they really are.

Some ppl just have to be right for the sake of being right.

BUT what is right for them may not be right for everyone else