analog

I think the problem people are having here is that it is not a universally transferable idea, and some of you are trying to do just that.

Just because Art's saying that experience tends to give one a higher degree of credibility does NOT mean that you have no credibility if you have NOT had experience.

A prime example: People always bitch about how "people who don't have kids shouldn't tell people WITH kids how to raise them." Society places a higher level of credibility in the parenting opinions of an actual parent, but that does not mean that if you are not a parent, you can't have any credibility.

Credibility can be gained in many different ways, without ever having a kid or tending for one- but we, as a society, will still place the most credibility in those with whom direct experience lies.

So, if you have kids- answer me this, and you'll know what I mean. If you had to pick a babysitter when you went out, and only had two choices- one, a woman of 30 who has a child of her own who is older than yours, or two, a woman of 30 with no children but who has "read up a lot on it and formed their own opinions"....

Which would most people choose? I think you know what I mean now.