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Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> Re[2]: When one can call oneself expert
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@gennick.com
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Thursday, December 23, 2004, 9:40:29 AM, Nick Tilbury @ Northampton (ntilbury_at_vartec.co.uk) 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 ifNTN> I can, but also just as
NTN> Merry Christmas List.
NTN> Nick NTN> -----Original Message----- NTN> From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org NTN> [mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org]On Behalf Of Mercadante, Thomas F NTN> Sent: 23 December 2004 12:53 NTN> To: 'FREEMANR_at_tusc.com'; 'oracle-l_at_freelists.org ' 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_at_tusc.com] NTN> Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 5:37 PM NTN> To: 'oracle-l_at_freelists.org ' NTN> Subject: RE: When one can call oneself expert NTN> Personally, I am uncomfortable with the title expert. I've had it put in aNTN> 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 haveNTN> 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_at_freelists.org NTN> To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org 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_at_usa.net] NTN> Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 4:01 PM NTN> To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org NTN> Subject: Re: When one can call oneself expert NTN> I was once told "There are no experts, only specialists", and I've seenNTN> no
NTN> --Terry
NTN> --
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-- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-lReceived on Thu Dec 23 2004 - 09:18:42 CST
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