That’s the way it is
Now HERE was an expert
Everyone is an expert today. Turn on MSNBC and some kid barely out of college is a guest expounding on politics or some other weighty subject.
Google any topic and find experts advising us all over the place on how to feed our bodies, grow our gardens, dress our kids, decorate our homes, take our vacations and vote for our Congressmen. We’ve got life coaches, small business coaches and executive coaches.
I’m wondering where all these experts around me came from and what makes them experts. Did they study long and hard with the masters in their fields? Did they have great experiences over decades? Are they self-taught?
We’re definitely inundated with know it alls. Back in the day, experts didn’t grow on trees. Let’s see, we had Walter Cronkite on international affairs, Grace Mirabella on fashion, Jack LaLanne on fitness, Mel Brooks on comedy and Julia Childs on cooking, for example. They were hardly the only experts in their fields, but they became our icons.
I don’t want to go back to the old way, but I know it’s impossible for so many of us to know quite so much.
Andy Warhol was right: We have all gotten out 15 minutes of fame. Although some people’s 15 minutes appears to last longer than others.
LOL Toby.
Geri
That’s an interesting observation. In the case of the people you mention, one had to be anointed an expert by the media; no Internet made self-proclamation or recognition by the masses possible. Maybe that’s one more of the things that make us the geezers: Sonny, I remember when there were real experts!
Hi Duchesse,
We use the word geezer in our household all the time. So funny. Still chuckling over your sonny line.
Geri