(no subject)

[ewt]

What makes someone an expert on something? What distinguishes an expert from an amateur? I'm not just talking about careers here, but areas of interest as well. When is knowledge the only indicator of expertise, and when to skill and good judgement come in?

[Poll #838240]

Comments

[rzigweid.livejournal.com]

I, like others, don't like answering the 'expert' question. It's a hard one to answer. Many people who would answer yes to this in specific areas, definitely are not. Many are. The cockiness that many show makes it hard to say who is and who isn't.

I also agree with caradea, that there are so much in most areas that are not known, that it's hard to say that one is an expert. Instead, I think when evaluating this, one has to look at their peer group. Who is sought for answers to questions? Who is turning out new research? Who is doing the interesting things in the area? Who speaks in the area with authority? Generally the answers to these questions are at least some of the experts in a field.

[yellowrocket.livejournal.com]

'The cockiness that many show makes it hard to say who is and who isn't.'

Absolutely - I know only too many people who claim expert status on loads of stuff and in fact have very little knowledge.

I tend not to claim expertise in anything much because there's bound to be someone along in a bit who knows more than me, thus making me look like a complete amateur!
Spares the whole, 'You're not really very expert after all, are you?!' thing.

[arkady.livejournal.com]

I treat "expert" in this context as meaning "knows more about a certain area than the average typical person might be expected to know and can talk knowledgeably on the subject". For instance, I know far too much for comfort about how the mental health system works and about all the various antidepressants and psychopharmacology in general, but I'm not a psychiatrist. I'm a very well-read patient who's had over 15 years' experience of the mental health system in this country. That grants a certain level of expertise, even though I don't have any formal qualifications in that area.