David Goodman wrote: > The traditional academic system is based upon status differences > between pupils and teachers. One of the problems is the reception they > get--a great many experts do not take it kindly when they are > challenged by the ignorant, and get no respect for their > qualifications, or even negative comments about them. But there is no > way of keeping WP open and preventing them from being subjected to > this. It affects not just academic experts, but experts in all sorts > of fields and knowledgeable amateurs also. >
You describe an attitude that has taken centuries to build up. Those who learned through deference teach deference. At best it will take several generations to overcome. > Some experts can deal with it well, and a few have been known to go > for years on WP without mentioning their academic status. Some have > the art of explaining things to make them clear to anyone who is not > willfully misunderstanding, and the patience to do it. These are the > kind of people we need. Alas, the one's who cannot tolerate the fools > are probably never going to be able to work effectively in a WP > environment. > > The intolerant ones can easily be there because of their own inability to communicate their ideas. They may be brilliant researchers, but hopeless at explaining their results. Ec _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
