To use a different example, Robert Frost was once asked when he knew he was a poet. He replied that 'you cannot call yourself a poet that title can only be given to you by other people' Given my experience with some of the self proclaimed experts who screwed up to many guns maybe that standard applies here.

quote:

Originally posted by xausa:
I received my copy Thursday and have thoroughly enjoyed leafing through it. At my age, I don't imagine I will be taking up stockmaking, but it gives me a better appreciation of those who do.

Well, if you aspire to stock making at any level, it's one of those books that - upon opening it up - the purchase price is long forgotten. There's just nothing else like it, and that includes Alvin Linden's and James Howe's books.

Interesting quote 4-5-0.

Thank you custombolt. In our world of excessive self promotion humility seems to be a lost attribute.

I know I'm slow and rather dense but I have read every entry on this thread and I still don't understand what it is trying to explain or demonstrate. All I really gathered is that someone has written a book. And I gather it is about stockmaking.

Zimbabwe

The thread was in response to the guy in the "Mauser thumb notch" thread who said that his two case failures(both caused by gross negligence) would have caused greater injury if he had been using a mauser with the thumb notch because he believed that the gas would have been directed into his eye(through the notch).

quote:

Originally posted by 4-5-0:
In our world of excessive self promotion humility seems to be a lost attribute.

Xperts usually come undone when they actually start believing their own hype -

If my experience and study serve me correctly, experience and study are a step in the right direction but are insufficient to assure fact (truth). This is because only an omniscient mind possesses all facts of experience. The alternative is to be content with coherence under prevailing circumstances to be the criterion of fact (truth).

Coherence includes experience and study to be sure, but also includes testing, and reason, and consistency, and reliability, and probably a few more things I don't know about.

And because nobody is omniscient, it is always correct to politely question anyone who claims they are speaking the truth. That is how one tests and reasons and acquires experience.

Its better to know the experts than be an expert.

Even experts will occasionally give opinions. Of course, non-experts often have little else to give. I have to say, since I found the internet, my self exteem is in the toilet. It's not a case of someone knowing more than I but a case of everyone knowing more than I. Sucks, really. Regards, Bill

I have often said this:

It is not knowing the answer so much as knowing where to go to get the answer.

Perhaps a standard used in Federal District Court might be instructive:

RULE 702. TESTIMONY BY EXPERT WITNESSES

A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if:

(a) The expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;

(b) The testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;

(c) The testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and

(d) The expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.


Thus, it is not enough for an "expert" to give an "opinion" because they "claim" to be an expert. Rather, the expert has to back up his or her opinion with sufficient facts or data that was obtained by reliable principles and methods that are then applied to explicit facts rather than general facts.

So, for example, a person could claim to be an expert by the fact that he or she had experience and study in a subject. In order for that person to be allowed to provide an opinion that person would have to show the basis (the reliable principles and methods) that allowed him or her to come to the conclusion. And of course, those principles and methods could then be attacked by another so called "expert" who has experience but the experience has been different than the first person.


I would think that in a setting such as this one, the best course of action would be to say that "I have found, based upon what I have worked on, based on how I worked on them (principles), based upon the materials and equipment that I have used (methods), over this period of time, that _______________. "

quote:

Originally posted by dave wesbrook:
The true expert has gained his knowledge through many years of hands on experience and study. He speaks in facts. ...The self-proclaimed expert has little knowledge or facts, but rather combines trivia, bull-shit and arrogance that he tries to portray as knowledge. His words should be ignored. ...Dave Wesbrook

Dave, you really know how to light up a thread! I think an "expert" is someone who has been declared one by his peers, but is still humble enough to keep his mind open to other things that can make his work better. Good to see your book is available at a good price now, I had to trade a Stevens 44 1/2 action to get my copy years ago.

Clowdis,

The original post was done in 2013 and I have no idea why Lindy2 brought it back now.

The book is now in its' third printing so it must be of use to a number of people.

Dave

I was told a expert was a guy that knew 150 ways to make love but didn't know any women, or was that a "Consultant"

quote:

Originally posted by dave wesbrook:
The true expert has gained his knowledge through many years of hands on experience and study. He speaks in facts. ...The self-proclaimed expert has little knowledge or facts, but rather combines trivia, bull-shit and arrogance that he tries to portray as knowledge. His words should be ignored. ...Dave Wesbrook

I assume this is only in regards to custom rifle building. As a recently retired senior project/construction manager for one of the O&G majors (#2 actually) I was running beyond my 30 year career peers at 10 years. Many with years of "experience" were not worth a chitt. Now, at 53, I am happily retired.

quote:

Originally posted by dave wesbrook:
Clowdis,

The original post was done in 2013 and I have no idea why Lindy2 brought it back now.

.

Dave

That's what trolls do!