I don't think I can honestly call myself an expert in anything, but, I am really enjoying reading all of your responses.
Me too. I think it is ok to claim expertise by a subjective definition here. Outside MA, I do not think posters here are about peer adjudication? However maybe then proficiency is a better term to use?
@Bill Mattocks, having little knowledge of most of those endeavours there are a lot of questions I would like to ask like how did you get set up with the internet before there was widespread adopting, did you make your own hardware and write your own software or could these things be hunted out? I mean you could not go on the internet and buy modems and things since there was no internet. I think we take the internet very much for granted. I cannot imagine how it was before that. And what kind of BBS did you run? And what is your IQ. I used to be in Mensa though I did not like the fervency with which they hunted out their prodigies. And did you really sell weapons from your home? Did you have an inventory at your home or did you deal from a shed? How did that work and was it dangerous or risky? Anyway thank you, I think I am being impertinent by asking too much. I appreciate your time.
@oftheherd1, is your working environment at all likened to CSI from the TV? And even if you have not used your languages I think maybe core words and phrases and grammar are still resident in you, no? Is there any pinyin system that you could write a Vietnamese phrase here? And I wonder would finishing your degree, rather than being for career benefits, be a reminder to you of your perseverance, determination and your ability to see a task through to the end? I think these things are often for the bragging on resumes and but this is for you alone. I hope you decide to go those last few steps that you deserve. Thank you for your reply.
@Carol, that is just not good form Carol, I was hoping for engineer jargon and those abbreviations and acronyms and systems and things so I could find out more about the vast expertise that people have. See you have said telecom engineering and I might think I know what that is. I want you to tell me a technical thing that I can ask you a question and learn something I did not even know!
And do you know why you are lacking commitment to your art I wonder? I hope that is something resolvable. Thank you for your answer.
@Cyriacus, and digital art is created from scratch? Do you use graphics tablets or how do you translate your work into digital? And is there a place to view your digital art maybe? I would like to see that
And I think redundancy suggests you are proficient in the field of networks and things, is that close?
And I would love you to share your expertise in scooting Youtube as my attempts at scooting there land me in places I would rather have not landed. Thank you for sharing.
@SahBumNimRush, do you think there will come a time in your MA and physical medicine when you are not perturbed by the "expert" label? If so, how do you think you will know that time? If not, how have others achieved expertise do you think? And Biology and Chemistry minoring in Guitar? That is a way cool combination, I can imagine organic and inorganic guitar tunings
And your background to me gives you expert status as I have no knowledge of these things. Do you think expertise is sometimes relative or is it an immutable standard? And please tell me which things you like to draw and paint? My forte is portrait work and seeing the look on the face of the subject when they are confronted by their likeness as I see them
And I think your wife can see beyond your modesty to your true level of knowledge. I appreciate your perspective your introspection and your reply thank you.
@Flying Crane, Oh I love acronyms. I looked that up and now I know you are with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors! That is fantastic. I think diving is such a serene activity. And yes you are a swordsmith too? Do you think there is market in traditional skills such as these especially since we practice traditional arts? Are there many with such skills Michael? Again I wonder when you would feel expert? Thank you for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it.
@Randy Strausbaugh, with 38 yr of MA training, is it the case that modesty sometimes vetoes our true depiction of our skills? Or is that how the BS proficiency works
? I had a friend say she was expert in nothing but sarcasm. I was not certain if she was being sarcastic. I would love to know how far your expertise extends, however I appreciate you taking time to reply here, thank you.
@elder999, do you think in MA we are conditioned to see ourselves as non-experts when most everyone else in our circles who do not practice MA to see us on the mats would differ in that opinion? Why is this? Your technical and work expertise sounds like the stuff of a John le Carre novel. I should like to know more as some things I am never certain if you are injecting levity as diffusing or diversion though I imagine to explain your trades and former career lives to a layperson like me would take more space than the forum could afford. I appreciate the brief synopsis though. I think these activities are fascinating and I imagine your memoir would be significant. Gardening for food I appreciate. Do you have your own farm? I have window boxes, potato sacks and elevated beds lol as nobody has space in London, even the swinging cats. Everest? Do you look at it as being kept from the top or as practically summiting? And I have other questions especially about your Lotus and but I will not take time just in case I am being impertinent. Thank you for sharing so kindly, I am grateful.
@ballen0351, I think your proficiencies define you as an expert, no? I think some areas have their own scale and others do not. To me you are expert, to your seniors perhaps you are not as expert as them, you may still be regarded as expert nonetheless. And but I will not ask about your undercover work as I am sure it is sensitive. Can I ask because you mention uniform, do you work for a particular branch of law enforcement or do you work independently? Is it ok to ask, do you receive debriefing counselling when you exit undercover work or is the work you do not at that depth? I appreciate you taking the time to put this down, thank you. And you are an expert at growing a beard? And do you plan to remove it that you are wondering of your class reaction? Do you think your chin will still be there underneath?
I used to love old Jeep and really any old vehicle. Working on those is far purer than dialling numbers on laptops! A wholesome activity, do you have any before/after shots, I love looking at those
Thank you for sharing.
@Makalakumu, even if you have not striven to achieve it, might you be expert without acknowledging it? Is it better to be expert in fewer areas or have proficiencies in more areas do you think? Is it possible to have both? Concurrency aside, your cumulative MA training must still have accounted for a sizeable whack of your time. Would you say your major expertise (I mean adeptness
) was in the martial arts or elsewhere among your skills? Being a seasoned traveller, do you think it is possible that some are more inclined to life in wilderness even if born in a city? I have met rural and country folk in different places who had an incredible savvy that I always think is very metropolitan. And can I ask what is the subject of your doctorate you are poking through? And a calling to Patagonia? Does this suggest ancient ancestry or do you not believe in all that stuff?
Thank you for taking the time to share, I am grateful.
@Big Don, commenting so succinctly on many topics here defines your knowledge in a wide range of fields. Is expertise not defined by knowledge? As you have read the skillsets of others, they I am sure would like to read yours. Modesty is admirable, nevertheless see this as a tiny opportunity to share the wealth of your experience and then modesty is less relevant. I really appreciate your time. Thank you.
