From: Marc Riddell michaeldavid86@comcast.net Reply-To: English Wikipedia wikien-l@lists.wikimedia.org Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:48:21 -0500 To: "Wiki-EN-L (new topics)" wikien-l@lists.wikimedia.org Subject: [WikiEN-l] What is an "expert"?
Hello all,
I believe there is something we should ask at this point. This question is for everyone participating in this Mailing List:
What is your definition of an "expert"?
Please, for now, try to resist responding to the others' answers, simply state your own.
Marc Riddell
In my case, I don¹t work with a single definition of the word ³expert²; in too many contexts it is divisive and elitist. That is why, when I must use it for any reason, I enclose it in quotes (no, I don¹t use air quotes when I speak it, George Carlin broke me of that).
Rather, my focus is on the material that may be in question. If that material is in my field, and it is counter to what I have learned in the past, I know where, and to whom, to go for verification.
If that material is in a field I know a little bit about, and the statement(s) don¹t jive with what I¹ve learned in the past, I go to other source(s) and check them out.
If it is in a field I know absolutely nothing about and I am wanting to apply what it is telling me to someone or something in my own life I read many sources.
My beliefs regarding the word ³expert² were further strengthened recently when a person on CNN was introduced as a ³personal safety expert². I didn¹t know whether they were a bodyguard, a crossing guard, or someone who designed condoms. After the interview was over I still didn¹t know. :-)
Perspective.
Marc Riddell
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