What does it mean to be an expert?

[Sunstone]

Where does the point of being an expert start?

When you begin to genuinely understand you do not know as much as you thought you did about something. Genuinely understand that you don't know as much -- not just faking that you think you don't know much.

If you honestly feel uncertain about something you've put in a lot of effort to learn, then there's a chance you have become an expert in that area.

At least, that's how I see it.

Dunning–Kruger effect - Wikipedia

 

[Samael_Khan]

When you begin to genuinely understand you do not know as much as you thought you did about something. Genuinely understand that you don't know as much -- not just faking that you think you don't know as much.

At least, that's how I see it.

I just fake not knowing much.

 

[SalixIncendium]

When you begin to genuinely understand you do not know as much as you thought you did about something. Genuinely understand that you don't know as much -- not just faking that you think you don't know as much.

At least, that's how I see it.

As I see it, to be considered an expert requires being recognized as such by another. You know, kinda like how I'm RF's resident fashion expert.

In my experience, one who touts oneself as an expert without any third party validation is usually a fool.

 

[Sunstone]

In my experience, one who touts oneself as an expert without any third party validation is usually a fool.

As a practical rule of thumb, I think you're onto something. In general, experts are usually recognized as such by their peers.

 

[Sunstone]

I just fake not knowing much.

Just about everyone does to some extent or another, don't they?

I think you know as well as I do that faking not knowing much is a time-honored technique for deflecting envy and jealousy. And envy and jealousy are things we humans are so often prone to feel for people we suppose are superior to us.

I have known a few people in life -- not very many, but a few -- who are typically happy for people when they catch on that those people are better than them. As one such person told me, "It's like there's hope for humanity after all." But so far as I know, those people are rare.

I don't think this is all there is to it, but I suspect the trick of escaping one's own feelings of envy and jealousy lies in part in accepting yourself and others as you are, rather than trying to 'be as good or better' than other people.

Many people have told me over the years that a good way to mess yourself up is to pay serious attention to your mind's habit of comparing you to others.

But I suspect I'm droning on about stuff you already know. It's a bad habit of mine to get so wrapped up in talking about something that I forget everyone knows more about it than I do.

 

[Sunstone]

You know, kinda like how I'm RF's resident fashion expert.

There goes my breakfast.

 

[Polymath257]

Being an expert means, to some extent, knowing more than most people about a subject, while also realizing you know almost nothing.

As @Sunstone has said, the true experts tend to be humbled by all that they do NOT know. This is opposed to the dilettante who *thinks* they know so much, but has not yet learned enough to know how much they don't know.

Peer recognition tends to come along with having the knowledge at this level. Some people get PhDs (which suggests you are an 'expert' in one small topic), but in reality the PhD (or other high degree) tends to be a stepping stone, not the end goal of real experts.

When you can simultaneously look at your mentor/teacher and *know* you know more than they (and they acknowledge it), but still *know* you hardly know anything at all, then you are likely to be an expert.

 

[Niblo]

I just fake not knowing much.

And you do it so well!

 

[SalixIncendium]

When you can simultaneously look at your mentor/teacher and *know* you know more than they (and they acknowledge it), but still *know* you hardly know anything at all, then you are likely to be an expert.

Unless your mentor/teacher just happens to be one of those dilettantes you speak of.

 

[Polymath257]

Unless your mentor/teacher just happens to be one of those dilettantes you speak of.

There is that, but having them acknowledge it is part of the process.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Have I mentioned in this thread yet that I'm an expert on this topic?

 

[SalixIncendium]

There is that, but getting them to acknowledge it is part of the process.

I put myself to that task every day when I go to work...

 

[Spirit of Light]

Have I mentioned in this thread yet that I'm an expert on this topic?

WUT
How can you know that we dont know that you know

 

[Polymath257]

When other people you consider to be experts come to you asking for help, you might be an expert.

 

[Sunstone]

When you can simultaneously look at your mentor/teacher and *know* you know more than they (and they acknowledge it), but still *know* you hardly know anything at all, then you are likely to be an expert.

Two or three really good teachers have told me stories of how much it has meant to them when a student ends up surpassing them. One was a martial arts instructor. Another was a university professor. I can only barely remember the third. That one might be a false memory.

 

[Spirit of Light]

When other people you consider to be experts come to you asking for help, you might be an expert.

i am no expert in being an expert
No wonder people do not ask for my advice

 

[Sunstone]

When other people you consider to be experts come to you asking for help, you might be an expert.

You know, that happens to me rather frequently. Experts ask me for help. Only they're asking for help mowing their lawns and stuff. I've yet to have one ask me for help in his or her field.

 

[Polymath257]

You know, that happens to me rather frequently. Experts ask me for help. Only they're asking for help mowing their lawns and stuff. I've yet to have one ask me for help in his or her field.

If you are mowing their field, and take a break, you are:

out standing in their field.

 

[SalixIncendium]

When other people you consider to be experts come to you asking for help, you might be an expert.

This almost reads like a smart person's Jeff Foxworthy bit.

But it doesn't quite work reading it in Jeff's voice now, does it?

 

[Samael_Khan]

And you do it so well!

Honestly, I have no idea.