Thanks for another great read. The tidbit about "Trust but verify" being of Russian origin is new to me, and possibly another example of Reagan's genius, since most of us remember his use of the same phrase during his Presidency. Nothing like using your adversary's words against him.
A lot of our modern "experts" have a bad habit of sounding off on subjects that are actually outside their areas of study. Just because a person has studied extensively on one narrow, limited subject, that does not mean he/she is equally expert in other areas.
I’ve been re-reading about the history of the Chinese “ Great Leap Forward “ from ~1959 to 1961…I can’t believe that the horror of that oppression and famine occurred within the timeline of our tranquil little lives in Petersburg, VA. Chairman Mao and his operatives certainly knew how to manipulate their subjects into suspending reality.
The legendary magician James Randi used to say that smart people are easier to fool because they tend to assume that they are harder or impossible to fool, and physicists also are not used to interpreting anomalies as hoaxes.
One of my graduate students commented that if you deconstruct “expert” you arrive at “ex” former or hasbin and “spurt” a drip under pressure. Sometimes in my career I’ve been noted as an expert, and I have always demurred and explained that I was no expert. I was just knowledgeable in my field.
1. No, it's still Citizen Kane. Just so much richer then Vertigo. Vertigo is basically a one trick pony. Good trick but only one. Kane uses the Rosebud mcguffin as a pry bar to lift the rest of the picture's exploration of people.
2. The disappearing elephant in Vertigo is what ever happened to Barbara Bel Gaddis's character.? Now you see her, now you don't.
3. I usually conclude by emails with "People who think they know all the answers, don't know all of the questions.
4. Most "experts" apply assumptive knowledge. They assume they know something and because they are "experts" what they know is true. And when they find out they are wrong it's not because they are wrong it's because of something or other . Basically their ego won't allow them to admit they are wrong.
I am never wrong. Incorrect, mistaken, occasionally in error or made a misjudgment, but never ever wrong.
5. There are 3 Major "You Knows".
A. Things you believe you know
B Things you think you know.
C .Things you actually do know (ie you know you know)
Have you ever seen or are familiar with the play “Three Philosophers on a Fire Tower?”
I saw it years ago. It centers on Swananoa, the mansion on top of Aston Mountain. It touches on the Anastasia fable. Written by Fletcher Collins. Very witty.
Thanks for another great read. The tidbit about "Trust but verify" being of Russian origin is new to me, and possibly another example of Reagan's genius, since most of us remember his use of the same phrase during his Presidency. Nothing like using your adversary's words against him.
A lot of our modern "experts" have a bad habit of sounding off on subjects that are actually outside their areas of study. Just because a person has studied extensively on one narrow, limited subject, that does not mean he/she is equally expert in other areas.
I've alluded to this quote before, and finally ran it to ground. It's from Josh Billings in the mid-19th century, and the misspellings are his:
"I honestly beleave it iz better tew know nothing than tew know what ain’t so."
Also:
"Wisdum don’t konsist in knowing more that iz new, but in knowing less that iz false."
Great article. I'm pretty sure I've never read another one that tied together Anastasia, Hitchcock, Houdini, and the Marx Brothers.
Great post, Professor. I was reminded of the mermaid scene in “Local Hero.”
I need to watch “Vertigo” again soon.
With respect to experts (many of whom deserve no respect) I recommend a book - The Crisis of Expertise by Gil Eyal (Polity Press 2019).
I’ve been re-reading about the history of the Chinese “ Great Leap Forward “ from ~1959 to 1961…I can’t believe that the horror of that oppression and famine occurred within the timeline of our tranquil little lives in Petersburg, VA. Chairman Mao and his operatives certainly knew how to manipulate their subjects into suspending reality.
I define an expert as a paid liar that hides deceit in complexity. Is that too cynical?
The legendary magician James Randi used to say that smart people are easier to fool because they tend to assume that they are harder or impossible to fool, and physicists also are not used to interpreting anomalies as hoaxes.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22randi%22+smart+people+easier+to+fool
One of my graduate students commented that if you deconstruct “expert” you arrive at “ex” former or hasbin and “spurt” a drip under pressure. Sometimes in my career I’ve been noted as an expert, and I have always demurred and explained that I was no expert. I was just knowledgeable in my field.
1. No, it's still Citizen Kane. Just so much richer then Vertigo. Vertigo is basically a one trick pony. Good trick but only one. Kane uses the Rosebud mcguffin as a pry bar to lift the rest of the picture's exploration of people.
2. The disappearing elephant in Vertigo is what ever happened to Barbara Bel Gaddis's character.? Now you see her, now you don't.
3. I usually conclude by emails with "People who think they know all the answers, don't know all of the questions.
4. Most "experts" apply assumptive knowledge. They assume they know something and because they are "experts" what they know is true. And when they find out they are wrong it's not because they are wrong it's because of something or other . Basically their ego won't allow them to admit they are wrong.
I am never wrong. Incorrect, mistaken, occasionally in error or made a misjudgment, but never ever wrong.
5. There are 3 Major "You Knows".
A. Things you believe you know
B Things you think you know.
C .Things you actually do know (ie you know you know)
People confuse them all the time.
Bob,
Have you ever seen or are familiar with the play “Three Philosophers on a Fire Tower?”
I saw it years ago. It centers on Swananoa, the mansion on top of Aston Mountain. It touches on the Anastasia fable. Written by Fletcher Collins. Very witty.