3 ms·

It's like some kind of Gell-Mann effect corollary. Scientists and other educated experts quoted in a newspaper carry automatic authority unless you understand

It's like some kind of Gell-Mann effect corollary. Scientists and other educated experts quoted in a newspaper carry automatic authority unless you understand the target field well enough. But if you do, you realize they are no more trustworthy than a guy on the bus. Titles don't help. An "environmental engineer" might not have sufficient knowledge about zoology or bridges to support whatever they are talking about, but a layperson might not realize that.

nhinck2 3y ago
Coined as mann-gell if I'm remembering this video correctly. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBBnfu8N_J0 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBBnfu8N_J0
sph 3y ago
The Gell-Mann effect overrates having an academic degree and doesn't count the fact that people might become experts in something they haven't done formal studies for. How can you tell whether I am as trustworthy as a guy on the bus on matters of software engineering? I am a high school dropout. Likewise, I'm no medical doctor, but knowledge is a spectrum, and I believe I know more than the average Joe on matters of nutrition because it is something that fascinates me and I've read and researched a lot about. Given that I've read and heard about Taubes for 15 years, it is simplistic to say the least that he doesn't know anything because he's got a physics background. tl;dr: the Gell-Mann effect only makes sense in a vacuum and if you really want to believe that having a degree automatically makes you an expert with worthwhile ideas.
- shermantanktop 3y ago
  The effect here is more about people claiming lateral authority, rather than the base claim of authority in the first point. But I take your point. I’m also underqualified for my position and am wary of credentialism. But if I’m looking at a topic I don’t know well — e.g. seismic building codes- I have to start somewhere. Software engineering is thankfully a field that is particularly accessible to people without formal training. Demand is high, functional skills can be proven on the spot, and employers are (usually) not in a position where their hiring decisions have potential legal consequences.

nhinck2 3y ago

Coined as mann-gell if I'm remembering this video correctly. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBBnfu8N_J0 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBBnfu8N_J0

sph 3y ago

The Gell-Mann effect overrates having an academic degree and doesn't count the fact that people might become experts in something they haven't done formal studies for. How can you tell whether I am as trustworthy as a guy on the bus on matters of software engineering? I am a high school dropout. Likewise, I'm no medical doctor, but knowledge is a spectrum, and I believe I know more than the average Joe on matters of nutrition because it is something that fascinates me and I've read and researched a lot about. Given that I've read and heard about Taubes for 15 years, it is simplistic to say the least that he doesn't know anything because he's got a physics background. tl;dr: the Gell-Mann effect only makes sense in a vacuum and if you really want to believe that having a degree automatically makes you an expert with worthwhile ideas.

shermantanktop 3y ago
The effect here is more about people claiming lateral authority, rather than the base claim of authority in the first point. But I take your point. I’m also underqualified for my position and am wary of credentialism. But if I’m looking at a topic I don’t know well — e.g. seismic building codes- I have to start somewhere. Software engineering is thankfully a field that is particularly accessible to people without formal training. Demand is high, functional skills can be proven on the spot, and employers are (usually) not in a position where their hiring decisions have potential legal consequences.