What is the differene between an expert and a know-it-all?

Aidey

Aidey

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Philosophical debate time here.

What is the difference between an expert and a know-it-all? Why are some people respected and given the title expert, while others are considered obnoxious know-it-alls?

For example, people consider Rogue Medic and Ambulance Driver to be experts in progressive EMS and as such, they are involved with EMS on a national level. How did they end up experts, instead of being written off as annoying and told to shut up?
 
I think it all has to do with presentation, perception, and attitude. If you are knowledgeable about a topic, are willing to share that knowledge, and don't come across as an arrogant, stuck-up, son of a female dog, then you will most likely be considered an expert. If you like to flaunt your knowledge in others faces, are rude about it, and generally an unpleasant person to be around, then you are considered a know-it-all. Some experts can be know-it-alls, but I don't think all know-it-alls are necessarily experts.
 
Aidey said:
Philosophical debate time here.

What is the difference between an expert and a know-it-all? Why are some people respected and given the title expert, while others are considered obnoxious know-it-alls?

For example, people consider Rogue Medic and Ambulance Driver to be experts in progressive EMS and as such, they are involved with EMS on a national level. How did they end up experts, instead of being written off as annoying and told to shut up?
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Probably experience and actual education/quals. That's how I perceive it anyway. I'm more apt to listen to someone who holds a higher degree than I do and has more experience, but then again, isn't everyone?
 
Experts wear suits and charge more to say less.
 
I'm an expert. You're a know-it-all. Any questions? :P




Know-it-alls typically don't know half as much as they claim and cover up that flaw by childish arguments.
 
I'm an expert at being a know it all.
 
Aidey said:
What is the difference between an expert and a know-it-all? Why are some people respected and given the title expert, while others are considered obnoxious know-it-alls?
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Persistence?

I’m only half joking about this. :)

If you can answer questions correctly and explain your reasoning, you’ll start to become known as a person with answers. I find that the people who refer to us smart folks as “know it all’s’ are the ones who’ve stopped looking for answers (or never started in the first place.) I took the time to explain capnography waveform phases to another medic who was having trouble understanding how it related to expiration. His partner, an old crotchety medic, called me a know it all. The guy I was helping said, “he’s not a know it all, but he knows more than I do about this, and he’s helping me out…”

Frankly, if you have conviction and a semblance of knowledge, someone…somewhere… will call you an expert.
 
I find people who label others know it alls are usually insecure in their own intelligence and take offense to being taught.
 
Aidey said:
Philosophical debate time here.

What is the difference between an expert and a know-it-all? Why are some people respected and given the title expert, while others are considered obnoxious know-it-alls?

For example, people consider Rogue Medic and Ambulance Driver to be experts in progressive EMS and as such, they are involved with EMS on a national level. How did they end up experts, instead of being written off as annoying and told to shut up?
Click to expand...

The difference between an expert and know-it-all is that an expert gives his opinion or facts when it's appropriate and a know-it-all keeps talking when it's not appropriate (or maybe even correct).
 
TatuICU said:
Probably experience and actual education/quals. That's how I perceive it anyway. I'm more apt to listen to someone who holds a higher degree than I do and has more experience, but then again, isn't everyone?
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I have found the exact opposite true, in EMS at least. I've heard people discount what a doctor says because they've "seen xxxx work" or whatever.
 
Aidey said:
I have found the exact opposite true, in EMS at least. I've heard people discount what a doctor says because they've "seen xxxx work" or whatever.
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I'm tired and I swear to god at first glance I thought that said, "because they've done sex work."

I think it has to do with personalities you get in EMS.
 
To me the difference is a know-it-all says they have nothing left to learn, a subject matter expert never forgets they're always learning.
 
TatuICU said:
I think it has to do with personalities you get in EMS.
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I think it has more to do with the fact that the basic educational principals in EMS are, in no particular order:

1. Something's always better than nothing.

2. I've always/never seen _____ work in the 10 minutes I've been with the patient.

3. There's no need to actually understand something, that's what protocols are for.

3.1. [Oversimplify understanding of ____] therefore [oversimplified treatment based on oversimplified understanding of ______] makes sense and should be done.

4. When the tough gets going, we call for Mommy (medical control).

5. Well, _____ isn't a true emergency and we can't diagnose it in the field, therefore there's no reason to teach it. Then ____ presents in the field in a manner that either represents an emergency, is an imposter for a condition that is a real emergency, or can lead to an actual emergency.
 
I am both. I am an expert on know it alls.
 
I'm honestly starting to think that the difference for a lot of people is whether they agree with the person or not. If they agree, they are an expert. If they disagree, they are a know it all.
 
What about in an academic setting?

I've noticed that individuals that prepare and study the material and are able to answer questions posed in class are often labeled "know it alls" in a negative context - especially if they are the only one who seems to be prepared and willing to respond.

Not talking about me, of course.... no. Not at all. :glare:

:P
 
dbo789 said:
I've noticed that individuals that prepare and study the material and are able to answer questions posed in class are often labeled "know it alls" in a negative context - especially if they are the only one who seems to be prepared and willing to respond.
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They're either gunners are sick and tired of no one answering and want to get the lecture moving along. One needs to be hurt, the other needs to be applauded.
 
JPINFV said:
I think it has more to do with the fact that the basic educational principals in EMS are, in no particular order:

1. Something's always better than nothing.

2. I've always/never seen _____ work in the 10 minutes I've been with the patient.

3. There's no need to actually understand something, that's what protocols are for.

3.1. [Oversimplify understanding of ____] therefore [oversimplified treatment based on oversimplified understanding of ______] makes sense and should be done.

4. When the tough gets going, we call for Mommy (medical control).

5. Well, _____ isn't a true emergency and we can't diagnose it in the field, therefore there's no reason to teach it. Then ____ presents in the field in a manner that either represents an emergency, is an imposter for a condition that is a real emergency, or can lead to an actual emergency.
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All these reasons and more are why the educational standards need to be raised to a great degree.

But back to the question at hand, the personalities we get in all of healthcare are oftentimes quite.......aggressive?

Then you arm an aggressive person with enough knowledge to be dangerous and set them loose thinking that they're "basically a doctor in a truck."
 
Aidey said:
I'm honestly starting to think that the difference for a lot of people is whether they agree with the person or not. If they agree, they are an expert. If they disagree, they are a know it all.
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I would think it would take a rather obtuse person to make their determination based on that logic. A lot of the time new facets of different subjects are brought up by others you may not agree with. It's perfectly healthy to disagree and you usually end up learning something whilst doing do even if you don't end up changing any minds or having yours changed.
 
They can overlap.

An expert is someone with vast skills and a comprehensive knowledge base.
A know it all is someone who is annoying and lacks humility.
 
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