I am pretty good at analyzing why the Seattle Mariners have not made the playoffs for more than 20 years.

Master at none, but motorcycles, inboard ski boats, boating in general, and paddlecraft, skating, cycling and bicycle repair, water skiing, sailing, sports in general, mechanics in general, automotive electrical, firearms, reloading, maybe cooking. Know enough about psychology and human nature to be able to weed out the phonies, but nobody is perfect.

When I was a teenager I figured out the Prisoner's Solitare puzzle (the one that looks like a plus sign), and the Rubik's cube. Used to be good at meditating rather than imbibing. Sudoku can take a while but is usually done correctly.

A good portion of my life was concerned with being more or most expert on understanding and living according to the message of Moses, or Jesus, or Buddha, or Lao Tzu, or Muhammed, or Guru Nanak, or Krishna, or Zoaraster, or Schrodinger. Now I just try to be as respectful as possible. And do my job with expertise.

I'm an absolute expert at losing flies to trees, bushes, rocks and tall grass while fly fishing.

Magic in general, and vanishing acts in particular.

Look closely and you will see, with your very own eyes, these very basic, very simple, takedown pin spring detents....ALA-KAZAAM! Gone!

Seriously...it's some David Blaine level shit.

Also reaching apprentice level on 10mm sockets.

I know a whole whole lot, and yet... don't know shit.

I’m an expert at turning ammo into noise

quote:

Originally posted by sooma:
I'm an absolute expert at losing flies to trees, bushes, rocks and tall grass while fly fishing.

Gotta wet a line to catch a fish.

I was once designated as an t witness on firearms in court.....because I knew more than anyone in the room regarding guns....

But I know a little bit about a lot.....

I can skin a buck and run a trot line....

^^^
...and a country boy can survive...

I know a whole bunch about how banks, insurance companies, and brokerage houses make money... I guess that makes me a financial "expert"

And for you nerds in the crowd:

I used to be an expert at a lot of things, but age and wisdom have taught me that I wasn't an expert at anything. Decent, perhaps, at a few things, but not an expert. Now I'm content with watching the real experts do their thing.

When eating a burger and fries I can consume the perfect ration of burger bites to fries eaten such that I run out of both at the same time.

It's not as easy as you think.

Doing this at Red Robin is dangerous.

Waiting. World class expert. I'm all done waiting HOURS before most people even get started!

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
See? I told you he'd take the bait.

You owe me twenty bucks, dude.

Some people are SO predictable!
I figured there'd be a long post about his expertise in yachting, captinin', nuclear physics, airplane maintenance, dead stick landings, condo building, and the scientific phenomena of diverting hurricane tracks.


Checks in the mail!

quote:

Originally posted by mojojojo:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

See? I told you he'd take the bait.

You owe me twenty bucks, dude.

Checks in the mail!

You can pay me using the new currency of the realm: toilet paper.

Maybe we should define “Expert” before going further.

It would appear that many are going on the idea that an expert knows EVERYTHING about a particular subject. It is gratifying to see that none are so full of themselves that they have honestly taken on the title here.

A different definition might be that -


An EXPERT is the one CURRENTLY on the scene that knows the most about the subject at hand.


As most here realize, there will always be someone that knows more than I do on an issue and there will always be someone that knows less.

So at times, WE are the expert. At other times we are the one that does the digging.

If we go by this new definition, we might end up giving ourselves a little more credit, which is where I think the OP was headed.

So, as for being an expert, I was given that title on a recent “Mission trip” to New Bern, NC. As part of a group of volunteers we went there for a week to help repair houses damaged or flooded from one of the recent storms. I was the Crew chief because I knew more about construction, electrical work and plumbing than anyone else. Until we got there. Then our local expert was my guide. Sharing ideas we came to an agreed solution and, impressively, an amazing amount of work got done that week.

Good times, I recommend it.

I guess the title “Expert” should be considered a tenuous one. It may be yours for a long time or for a very short time. In my mind it should be given you by someone else, not declared by yourself. (It not being wise to put yourself on a pedestal).

The sage on the stage will step down now.....

quote:

Originally posted by Chris42:
It would appear that many are going on the idea that an expert knows EVERYTHING about a particular subject.

Tell me class...does anyone know what we call someone who knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING?