[Foundation-l] Participation of intellectual professions

[Ray Saintonge]

David Goodman wrote:
> The traditional academic system is based upon status differences
> between pupils and teachers. One of the problems is the reception they
> get--a great many experts do not take it kindly when they are
> challenged by the ignorant, and get no respect for their
> qualifications, or even negative comments about them.  But there is no
> way of keeping WP open and preventing them from being subjected to
> this.  It affects not just academic experts, but experts in all sorts
> of fields and knowledgeable amateurs also.
>   

You describe an attitude that has taken centuries to build up.  Those 
who learned through deference teach deference. At best it will take 
several generations to overcome.

> Some experts can deal with it well, and a few have been known to go
> for years on WP without mentioning their academic status. Some have
> the art of explaining things to make them clear to anyone who is not
> willfully misunderstanding, and the patience to do it. These are the
> kind of people we need. Alas, the one's who cannot tolerate the fools
> are probably never going to be able to work effectively in a WP
> environment.
>
>   
The intolerant ones can easily be there because of their own inability 
to communicate their ideas. They may be brilliant researchers, but 
hopeless at explaining their results.

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