Fred Bauder wrote:
Knowledge and the ability to communicate it are what matter. Credentials are evidence of the possibility that the person is familiar with knowledge regarding a topic and can communicate that knowledge, but not proof in the absence of performance.
Saying that credentials are insufficient to establish one's suitability as an editor is a very different argument from saying that credentials must not be permitted to play any role in the editing process--which was the original point I was addressing.
I don't think there is any disagreement that knowledge and the ability to communicate it are key factors. The issue seems to be how to establish expertise in a way that is widely accepted and trusted.
As someone making a living outside of the fields in which I have degrees, I am well aware that credentials are not a direct representation of a person's knowledge and abilities.
I just question the wisdom of investing the time, money, effort, attention, mindshare, etc. in a system for verifying credentials while at the same time holding that credentials are not at all meaningful to the project.