Experts

[lyndylou]

Hi Ed I have posted a few - serious - questions and have received some excellent answers so don't get me wrong I think Answerbank is brilliant - but occasionally we do get wallies putting in their two peneth

What I think would be a good addition is an experts panel - you could put out a questionnaire of some kind to vet people and help you decide that they are indeed an expert in a certain field and make up a panel - they are then awarded a symbol or something next to their avatars or profile name

Then when q's are asked they can be answered by anyone in the normal way - but when an expert answers they will be identified as an expert - we would then know that what they are saying is indeed an experts opinion

-You must have a multitude of professional people giving their advice here everyday - it's just we don't know it xx

Hope this makes sense

[lyndylou]

OK all too difficult !!

[THECORBYLOON]

I am an expert when it comes to septic tanks (reasonable rates for OAPs Mondays and Thursdays) and all things televisual. Honest!

[jno]

MarkRae, I assume that's why lyndylou is suggesting some sort of authentication process. But as naomi has said it would be more trouble than it's worth. So you just have to make what you can of anything on AB (as with pretty much anything on the internet).

[woofgang]

But who would "validate" their declaration that they are an expert? or even if they have a qualification, that they are good at what they are qualified in?

[atalanta]

There is already such a system - run by Librarians of Public Libraries. Go and ask in your local Library. It is called "Ask a Librarian"

[woofgang]

Librarians validate the folk who post on AB?

[THECORBYLOON]

Since when have librarians been available at this time for example?

[boxtops]

I don't think it would work - some of the people won't be on here all the time, how would they know there is a message needing their expert attention? We'd have to start having topic headings called Chuck, and Sqad, and NewJudge (to name but three of many) - it would be like reading your emails at work, with stuff only addressed to those experts. We all like putting in our four-penn'orth!

[Barmaid]

I agree Boxy. It would put undue pressure on those "experts".

And how does one define an expert?!

[ttfn]

Anyone reading a public forum should remember 'caveat emptor'.

[jno]

or Caveat Lector (Hannibal's younger brother)

[boxtops]

It's only the Health & Beauty section where the Ed's put up a warning - it really ought to apply to any of the topics.

[B00]

I'll only approve of this suggestion if I get to be an expert of a topic.

[MarkRae]

And in the Law section, Boxy...

[boxtops]

I can be the expert on Not Cleaning Windows

[Barmaid]

I haven't checked recently Boxtops, but there certainly used to be a disclaimer in the Law section as well.

[jno]

what's your specialist subject, B00?

We don't get as many Fondant Fancy queries as we should, so you might be having to answer questions on Life in the North as well.

[Barmaid]

I'm an expert in Pinot Grigio. So do I get a badge?!

[Eve]

Also may "experts" are specialised to a field with maybe a general knowledge of others so just because you get a lawyer/doctor etc... answering, it doesn't mean they are all knowing up to date across the whole scope of law/medicine etc... which may well be misleading to people who think just because they are a lawyer/doctor/nurse etc... that their opinion is more important that others (which may be more correct) even in areas that aren't their specialty (if that makes sense?).

Helping with general advice under a disclaimer is one thing, putting your professional reputation on the line and the far reaching liability issues which would also come with it is another, especially with all the hindrances of only knowing what is told by an anonymous stranger on a Q&A site - most proper professional advice would usually be given with far more information, questions, enquiries/tests etc... along with appropriate safeguards and indemnity.

Trouble is also that people would then tend to target specific posters to ask questions and pressure could be put on them to answer questions, it be almost expected and them even getting stalked round the site, rather than it being a general Q&A site with input from some experienced people at their own leisure (which is fantastic and something I've benefitted from).

It would be a liability nightmare!

[boxtops]

Yes, the disclaimer's still in the Law section - I hadn't noticed that, but quite right too.