Expert oponion

[S.A. Boggs]

Just what qualifies a person to be an "expert" on anything?
Sam

[clintonhater]

Experience PLUS brains, or rather, thoughtful intelligence, because thoughtlessness & brains can go together. But all the experience in the world doesn't help the stupid to see beyond the obvious & simplistic.

[JOHN COOK]

When I was in LE I was told that an expert was a SOB from out of town with a brief case.

john

[Allen]

It seems to be those who have a lot to say whether it be verbally or written. Often those who know the most are the quietest so there are those who are actual experts vs those who think they are experts or just want attention.

[JOHN COOK]

OK.....

john

[Allen]

When I worked at the refinery those that were promoted were "instant experts". The previous day their opinions wouldn't have been worth "squat".

[JOHN COOK]

I know some of those. "yesterday I couldn't spell ENGIN NEAR and now I are one"

john

[Emri]

Just what qualifies a person to be an "expert" on anything?
Sam

I don't know about other fields but....... When in gunsmith school an instructor informed us; "The only person who can claim to be a 'gun expert' would be one who knows Everything about Every gun that was Ever manufactured and such a person doesn't exist".

[clintonhater]

I don't know about other fields but....... When in gunsmith school an instructor informed us; "The only person who can claim to be a 'gun expert' would be one who knows Everything about Every gun that was Ever manufactured and such a person doesn't exist".

A requirement to know "Everything" in any field is impossibly restrictive. A relative expert may simply be someone who knows slightly more than you; but that's meaningless if you know very little. But there are many who approach a knowledge of "Everything," even if they fall short of that (impossible) goal. For ex., Brophy surely qualifies as a Springfield expert, though there are mistakes & omissions in his book, as there always are when one tackles any major subject.

[Allen]

Politicians are good examples of self proclaimed experts. They have practically destroyed the world as we know it. It has taken someone like Trump who is not a politician nor political expert but merely a citizen on the sidelines with common sense who has become fed up with the corruption going on to attempt to straighten things out.

[JB White]

Just like "Master Carpenter". There is no such thing anymore and hasn't been for ages. Impossible to master the scope of the trade in several lifetimes. Not even Norm Abram thinks himself a master carpenter, but he is on record in interviews saying his producers think it sounds more impressive.

Expert. Ex = former and a spurt is a drip under pressure.

[Sunray]

He can spell the word opinion. snicker.
"...and now I are one..." Exactly what St. Bill said when he made me an MCSE.

[Faulkner]

If you have to ask it probably is not you.

[clintonhater]

Just like "Master Carpenter". There is no such thing anymore and hasn't been for ages. Impossible to master the scope of the trade in several lifetimes. Not even Norm Abram thinks himself a master carpenter, but he is on record in interviews saying his producers think it sounds more impressive.

You're assigning a meaning to "master" that's not traditional, if it can ONLY mean experience in every conceivable work a carpenter might be asked to do. If that's the bar that must be cleared, then there can't be "masters" in any craft. What it traditionally meant is the attainment of a high--but not impossibly high-- degree of professional competence, as judged by others in the profession.

[dave]

I don't know about other fields but....... When in gunsmith school an instructor informed us; "The only person who can claim to be a 'gun expert' would be one who knows Everything about Every gun that was Ever manufactured and such a person doesn't exist".

You nailed it I have been saying that for years!!