Comment by Ansil849 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Ansil849 | Hacker News Reader

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> "Experts" are just people with their own inherent biases.

This is an absurd and false statement, and is a perfect summation of why so much mis/disinformation floats around and is so popular in today's online world.

Experts do indeed have their own inherent biases. This part is a glib truism because experts are people, and all people have biases which both consciously and unconsciously influence their decision making.

But that is not "just" what experts are. Experts are people who have, by definition, expertise in a given subject matter. Unless you too are an equal expert in a given topic, experts--once again by definition--know more than you do in that field.

It doesn't mean you need to take what they say as gospel, so to speak, but it does mean that when the choice is to listen to 'random person on the internet' versus 'someone who has studied something for years and has made valued contributions to the field', the two-despite both having biases-are not on equal footing.

Ehh. When I was a kid we called this an appeal to authority. Experts are wrong all the time. Experts disagree all the time. Just like some random person on the internet.

An appeal to authority fallacy occurs when that appeal is made to an irrelevant authority. An example of an appeal to authority fallacy would be if a podiatrist touts their DPM credentials when making claims about the efficacy of Covid vaccinations. This is an appeal to authority fallacy because they are not involved in vaccine research or a related field. An example that would not be an appeal to authority fallacy would be if a car mechanic told you you're getting the wrong bulbs for your car, and then explain that you were getting fog bulbs when you probably need regular headlight replacements. This is not an appeal to authority fallacy because the mechanic is qualified and explained their reasoning (which you can seek consensus on from other mechanics).

And when experts disagree, it is informed disagreement, not at all like random people on the internet.

> An appeal to authority fallacy occurs when that appeal is made to an irrelevant authority.

You are an idiot. An argument stands on it's own. Who presents arguments is wholly immaterial.

I doubt you actually believe this. Let's take an example: you experience a lot of pain after being in a car accident. Do you: a) ask random people about the pain and what you should do about it, or b) go to the hospital.

Obviously anyone remotely rational is going to go with b). Why? Because they trust that the people there are more likely to better care for you than a random person on the street. And why is that? Because they are experts.

"Experts" are wrong all the time. I have doctor who didnt even order my mri with iodine last week, because hes a fool. He didnt even know that was an option. He also didnt know ultrasound to find an injury was an option. I know more than this doctor on ligament tears and how to treat them at this point and thats supposed to be his job. This is just one example but I find new ones every week where "experts" in all fields have no clue what they're doing.

This obviously isnt to say all experts are not knowledgeable, but theres plenty who are not and often they are in charge. Thats why taking their opinion as ultimate truth without question is dangerous.

Yes, there are people who are shitty at their jobs. Again, this is a glib truism. There are shitty doctors and programmers as much as there are shitty waiters and binmen.

> Thats why taking their opinion as ultimate truth without question is dangerous.

Agree. Which is why I explicitly stated:

> It doesn't mean you need to take what they say as gospel, so to speak, but it does mean that when the choice is to listen to 'random person on the internet' versus 'someone who has studied something for years and has made valued contributions to the field', the two-despite both having biases-are not on equal footing.

I'm sorry that it sounds like you have a shitty doctor. The solution is to find a better one, not to renounce doctors.

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