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Silvy · 10-27-2004, 02:11 AM

Personally I'd try to prevent this board from becoming an ask-an-expert type thing, where each subject has its own list of qualified members.

While it probably is far from happening, setting up such lists on too many forums might prevent "non-qualified" from attempting to answer the question, because they feel not "allowed" to.

Personally, I have reasonable experience fiddling with computers on both a personal and commercial basis, yet I have no " A+ degree" whatever that means. On many subjects I know something, and that might just help somebody out. In case I'm not sure, I usually put a clause in my answer (" I'm not sure, but: ") along with a request for more info, or a suggestion of what is safe or unsafe to try.
I do not consider myself elligible for any "certified" list, but I do see myself qualified for answering questions in a helpful way.
What I'm afraid for is the first response to my answer: "I'll wait for someone qualified" (or such). Which will prevent me from answering the next question.

When I'm asking a question, I want an answer I can use, wether it comes from an expert or not, wether it helps me a little or a lot. And if I don't recognize the person answering, and the answer is not clear (or does not seem safe) I will question the person's experience on that issue (he/she could be a complete nitwit on all other issues, i.e. not an expert).

Like I said, it's probably not happening yet, but if people get used to the difference between experts and regular users, regulars could feel left out in answering questions.

So I guess my answer is: I'm not for it
People get reputations on this site, and I believe that will establish the experts by itself. I don't believe there are many responses like "ok, thanx for your answer, but are you qualified?". So would the list be used?
And: do answers by experts not usually contain enough advice, requests for info, tips etc that establishes the author as such?

I "vote" no.

10-27-2004, 02:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Silvy paranoid Location: The Netherlands	Personally I'd try to prevent this board from becoming an ask-an-expert type thing, where each subject has its own list of qualified members. While it probably is far from happening, setting up such lists on too many forums might prevent "non-qualified" from attempting to answer the question, because they feel not "allowed" to. Personally, I have reasonable experience fiddling with computers on both a personal and commercial basis, yet I have no " A+ degree" whatever that means. On many subjects I know something, and that might just help somebody out. In case I'm not sure, I usually put a clause in my answer (" I'm not sure, but: ") along with a request for more info, or a suggestion of what is safe or unsafe to try. I do not consider myself elligible for any "certified" list, but I do see myself qualified for answering questions in a helpful way. What I'm afraid for is the first response to my answer: "I'll wait for someone qualified" (or such). Which will prevent me from answering the next question. When I'm asking a question, I want an answer I can use, wether it comes from an expert or not, wether it helps me a little or a lot. And if I don't recognize the person answering, and the answer is not clear (or does not seem safe) I will question the person's experience on that issue (he/she could be a complete nitwit on all other issues, i.e. not an expert). Like I said, it's probably not happening yet, but if people get used to the difference between experts and regular users, regulars could feel left out in answering questions. So I guess my answer is: I'm not for it People get reputations on this site, and I believe that will establish the experts by itself. I don't believe there are many responses like "ok, thanx for your answer, but are you qualified?". So would the list be used? And: do answers by experts not usually contain enough advice, requests for info, tips etc that establishes the author as such? I "vote" no. __________________ "Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints)