Internet experts and other needy folks ...

[pgsmith]

Hey y'all,
I just have a need to rant for a minute. Why is it that some people feel the need to be thought of as knowledgeable and experienced? I have spent quite a bit of time on various on-line forums (I work at a computer all day and need to break the tedium!). In every forum that I've ever been on, there are always the internet experts. These are people that have read some stuff, either in books or on-line, and then have the need to pass themselves off as experts. They have no practical knowledge of their own, and have no way of knowing whether what they think is actually correct. Never the less, they always spout off their esteemed opinions as if they had actually put in the work to truly understand what they are talking about. They present the things that they've read as facts, without knowing if they are or not. I have found that there are two ways to figure out who is knowledgeable and who is only an internet expert.

The first is to request backup. Someone truly knowledgeable will cite where they gathered the information, what research they put in, or what past experiences led them to this conclusion. The internet expert will usually resort to insults, defamation, or sullen silence because they never really did any research, nor do they have any experiences from which to form their opinions.

The second is to engage in a more in-depth conversation if the subject is one with which you are very familiar. The internet expert will quickly get in over their head as they only know what they've read in other forums and such. The shallowness of their understanding will come through fairly quickly.

I guess my whole question out of this is why do some people feel the need to be seen as an expert? What is it that drives some people to pretend that they are something they're not. Why would some people rather be taken as knowledgeable by strangers, than actually learn from people that know what they're talking about?

Another of life's little mysteries. If anyone has answers, I'd love to hear them.

Cheers,

[Okori]

I reckon its because of the need to try and set a good first impression, but sometimes they go to far and it can backfire right in their face.

I know what you mean though

[piggy]

i guess its human nature and the need to be liked.

[orayakab]

Yes they are called 'internet hanshi' we have a couple right here on this forum

orayakab

[Paikea]

Naawww...I was going to post a specific instance, but the guy is on a roll and I don't want to mess it up yet.

[Hank]

Maybe this is sad, but I really enjoy watching the "experts" come here. The stuff they post is usually way out there and it's great watching the real experts take them apart. I love it.

2Swords4Life!

Hank.

[Paikea]

2Swords4Life!

Precisely.

[Denker]

A true "internet expert" stalks you at all times, patiently waiting for his chance to jump in and cause chaos and confusion. Be careful what you post, Mr. Smith, you may be inviting some terrible plague upon us!

[drizzt]

Maybe this is sad, but I really enjoy watching the "experts" come here. The stuff they post is usually way out there and it's great watching the real experts take them apart. I love it.

2Swords4Life!

Hank.

whats great is the "real experts" who have the rest of the forum buffalo'd into beleiving they now everything and then mocking people who present...god forbid....a different idea. Technical forums are HORRIBLE about that

[God]

...god forbid....

Yes I do drizzt-San... absolutely correct... and by the way... the 'G' in my title in usually capitalised...

Me bless...

[Jesus]

Drizzt you have to forgive dad, he's grumpy.....all these non-beleivers you know.

[Andou]

You know pgsmith, I don't appreciate your tone. We internet experts devote a lot of our time trying to learn how to make fools of ourselves. For instance...I spend hours in front of the mirror trying to get that look when someone doubts your information and you wish to silence them because you...have no information. It's a hard task to undertake! I've also mastered the art of online disappearance when I can poof away in an instant and rejoin a conversation with my infinite knowledge when I think people forgot about how ri-fricking-diculous the claims of me and my kin were.

Just joking. I know how you feel...And it happens everywhere. Even in real-life... which is a little better, because you can see if the guy who you're talking back to is bigger than you.

[JSchmidt]

The best bit about the 'experts' and their supporters is their complete anonymity. No risks taken whatsoever, regardless of what they claim.
I know that several of my juniors, peers and seniors read this forum and that I will have to back up any controversial statements...these guys, however (and their supporters) have to do jack all...just ruh-rah along and play indignant. Internet is great, isn't it?

Jakob

[yohed55]

pgsmith, may i ask what you do with computers? i do a little C++ and im going to tech school for it.

[stephanie dee]

because online you can pretend to be something that your not. You dont have to be yourself. Esp, if yourself isn't too bright, or not really with it. You cant copy and paste from the net and sound great!!

Well, thats what I think.... though I not really an expert when it comes to anything.... so I can't really comment... LOL! I just don't try to pretend anymore. I'm blonde and I know it!