Re[2]: When one can call oneself expert
- From: Jonathan Gennick <jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 10:22:19 -0500
I'm sure there's a dictionary definition for the word
"expert", but I won't even bother to look, because what the
dictionary says does not matter. What matters is what people
think when you use the term. And I think the root of that
problem is that "expert" tends to be perceived of as an
absolute term, in that you either are or are not an expert.
Consider how the following sentence is likely to be perceived:
I have expertise in writing SQL queries
To most people, this will come across as a humble-enough
statement. The word "expertise" doesn't imply (to me anyway)
an all or nothing statement. The word is relative. I have
some expertise. My neighbors who are not DBAs probably have
less. Many of you have more.
But, if I say:
I am an expert in writing SQL queries
Well, that's another matter, because "expert" is not
perceived as being relative to anything else. And, absent
any clear definition in people's mind as to what the word
"expert" means, most people, whether consciously or
unconsciously, translate the above into:
I know everything there is to know about writing SQL
queries
So I say I'm an expert, but you hear me saying that I know
everything, and so I've just set myself up on a pedestal
from which I can do nothing but fall.
So, IMHO, the best course of action is never, ever to use
the word "expert". At least, do not use it in reference to
yourself. I'm wary of anyone who applies the term "expert"
to themselves.
Best regards,
Jonathan Gennick --- Brighten the corner where you are
http://Gennick.com * 906.387.1698 * mailto:jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxx
Join the Oracle-article list and receive one
article on Oracle technologies per month by
email. To join, visit http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/oracle-article,
or send email to Oracle-article-request@xxxxxxxxxxx and
include the word "subscribe" in either the subject or body.
Thursday, December 23, 2004, 9:40:29 AM, Nick Tilbury @ Northampton
(ntilbury@xxxxxxxxxxxx) wrote:
NTN> I've read this thread with interest agreeing with round(99.9)||'%' of posts
NTN> and thinking I won't add .....
NTN> ... but I couldn't resist :-)
NTN> IMO - if people think a given subject is complicated and from their limited
NTN> perspective you appear to
NTN> know all the answers, then like it or not, you will be considered an
expert.
NTN> Being the longest serving DBA at my place of work, I am therefore
considered
NTN> an expert.
NTN> Like other list-ers, this is not a title that sits comfortably with me 'cos
NTN> I know how much there is
NTN> out there that I don't know !
NTN> Nevertheless - I don't correct them either, I just answer their questions
if
NTN> I can, but also just as
NTN> importantly, if I don't know I SAY SO !
NTN> Merry Christmas List.
NTN> Nick
NTN> -----Original Message-----
NTN> From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
NTN> [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Mercadante, Thomas F
NTN> Sent: 23 December 2004 12:53
NTN> To: 'FREEMANR@xxxxxxxx'; 'oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx '
NTN> Subject: RE: When one can call oneself expert
NTN> Robert,
NTN> "A man's got to know his limitations".
NTN> (A quote from a Dirty Harry movie.)
NTN> This, to me, is the definition of an expert. You *clearly* understand that
NTN> you know a lot about Oracle, but that there are things you do not know but
NTN> have the interest and drive to learn them.
NTN> I always think that understanding what I don't know is more important than
NTN> bragging about what I do know.
NTN> One of life's lessons.
NTN> Tom
NTN> -----Original Message-----
NTN> From: Freeman Robert - IL [mailto:FREEMANR@xxxxxxxx]
NTN> Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 5:37 PM
NTN> To: 'oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx '
NTN> Subject: RE: When one can call oneself expert
NTN> Personally, I am uncomfortable with the title expert. I've had it put in a
NTN> Bio or two, but never at my request. Even after 15+ years of Oracle, I
still
NTN> find out every day that:
NTN> 1. There are things I never quite understood right.
NTN> 2. Things I didn't know that I thought I should know.
NTN> 3. That there are things that I knew at one time, that I completley have
NTN> forgotten (I hate this one the worst I think).
NTN> All I know is that I'm fortunate to have a wide set of experiences, so I've
NTN> done a great number of things. I understand the basics, so the details are
NTN> not that hard to get to. I can read, and research, and think I have
NTN> something that I think only trully "experienced" DBA's have, a kind of
NTN> sixth-sence about problem solving.
NTN> Does that make me special? Nope, just means I've been doing this a while.
NTN> Put me in an ER and I'd be killing people all day long.
NTN> RF
NTN> -----Original Message-----
NTN> From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
NTN> To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
NTN> Sent: 12/22/2004 4:17 PM
NTN> Subject: RE: When one can call oneself expert
NTN> Amen! I have know many Oracle "experts" with really very little
NTN> knowledge.
NTN> When someone calls themselves an "expert" I usually find myself
NTN> recycling
NTN> their resume and looking for another candidate. I usually find these
NTN> people
NTN> are experts at BS and not Oracle at all.
NTN> Kathy
NTN> -----Original Message-----
NTN> From: Terry Sutton [mailto:terrysutton@xxxxxxx]
NTN> Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 4:01 PM
NTN> To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
NTN> Subject: Re: When one can call oneself expert
NTN> I was once told "There are no experts, only specialists", and I've seen
NTN> no
NTN> reason to disagree.
NTN> --Terry
NTN> --
NTN> //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
NTN> This transmission contains information solely for intended recipient and
NTN> may
NTN> be privileged, confidential and/or otherwise protect from disclosure.
NTN> If
NTN> you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete
NTN> all
NTN> copies of this transmission. This message and/or the materials
NTN> contained
NTN> herein are not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy,
NTN> any
NTN> securities or other instruments. The information has been obtained or
NTN> derived from sources believed by us to be reliable, but we do not
NTN> represent
NTN> that it is accurate or complete. Any opinions or estimates contained in
NTN> this information constitute our judgment as of this date and are subject
NTN> to
NTN> change without notice. Any information you share with us will be used
NTN> in
NTN> the operation of our business, and we do not request and do not want any
NTN> material, nonpublic information. Absent an express prior written
NTN> agreement,
NTN> we are not agreeing to treat any information confidentially and will use
NTN> any
NTN> and all information and reserve the right to publish or disclose any
NTN> information you share with us.
NTN> --
NTN> //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
NTN> --
NTN> //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
NTN> --
NTN> //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
NTN> =======================================================
NTN> This message is intended solely for the use of the individual or
organisation to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged or
confidential information. If you have received this message
NTN> in error, please notify the originator immediately. If you are not the
intended recipient, you should not use, copy, alter, or disclose the contents
of this message. All information or
NTN> opinions expressed in this message and/or any attachments are those of the
author and are not necessarily those of VarTecTelecom Europe Ltd or its
affiliates. VarTec Telecom Europe Ltd accepts
NTN> no responsibility for loss or damage arising from its use, including
damage from virus.
NTN> =======================================================
NTN> --
NTN> //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
--
//www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l
Other related posts:
