Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#1

Post by Fiely » Mon, Nov 27, 2023, 4:27 PM UTC

I'm interested in people's experience with finding experts in any field or subject. Often when there is an event or subject that dominates the "feeds" I read things like "You should find the experts on both sides" or "go read from the subject matter experts" but I struggle with this given the vast amount of information available. I find myself in a bit of paralysis when learning about new fields in which I focus a lot on finding the "right" source.

How do you find experts and how do you verify their expertise?

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#2

Post by helph67 » Mon, Nov 27, 2023, 9:03 PM UTC

Often you will find a search for an `aggregator' website will prove useful... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregator

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#3

Post by altdataseller » Mon, Nov 27, 2023, 10:04 PM UTC

Definitely not by subscribing to an expert network. Those things are way too expensive and overrated

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#4

Post by vinniepukh » Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 12:17 AM UTC

helph67 wrote: post #2

Often you will find a search for an `aggregator' website will prove useful... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregator

[flagged]

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#5

Post by hardkorebob » Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 3:01 AM UTC

You can tell them apart, the fool and expert, when they open their mouth.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#6

Post by yura » Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 4:20 AM UTC

hardkorebob wrote: post #5

You can tell them apart, the fool and expert, when they open their mouth.

Definitely not. Especially if you're not yourself an expert in the subject.

This was clear before, but it's now even more evident with the advent of ChatGPT, which can generate very elaborate prose on any subject that will sound extremely convincing to most people, but turns out to be nonsensical or pure bullshit upon close inspection by actual experts in that subject.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#7

Post by colesantiago » Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 5:07 AM UTC

You can use https://intro.co where you can find experts.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#8

Post by jpmoral » Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 10:55 AM UTC

hardkorebob wrote: post #5

You can tell them apart, the fool and expert, when they open their mouth.

A former coworker of mine is a chess IM (International Master, one step below Grand Master). We used to talk chess but never played. He was convinced I was a lot stronger than I really was, despite my saying that I was all talk and no game.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#9

Post by hardkorebob » Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 2:03 PM UTC

yura wrote: post #6

hardkorebob wrote: post #5

You can tell them apart, the fool and expert, when they open their mouth.

Definitely not. Especially if you're not yourself an expert in the subject. This was clear before, but it's now even more evident with the advent of ChatGPT, which can generate very elaborate prose on any subject that will sound extremely convincing to most people, but turns out to be nonsensical or pure bullshit upon close inspection by actual experts in that subject.

Exactly my point. You can call BS on anyone when you are IRL talking to them. People can't hide the vibe of being an idiot.

Re: Ask HN: How do you find experts?

#10

Post by yura » Tue, Nov 28, 2023, 2:45 PM UTC

hardkorebob wrote: post #9

yura wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Definitely not. Especially if you're not yourself an expert in the subject. This was clear before, but it's now even more evident with the advent of ChatGPT, which can generate very elaborate prose on any subject that will sound extremely convincing to most people, but turns out to be nonsensical or pure bullshit upon close inspection by actual experts in that subject.

Exactly my point. You can call BS on anyone when you are IRL talking to them. People can't hide the vibe of being an idiot.

> Exactly my point. You can call BS on anyone when you are IRL talking to them. People can't hide the vibe of being an idiot.

Unlikely, otherwise people like Elizabeth Holmes or Bernie Madoff wouldn't be able to scam so many investors. Even if you were to talk to them face to face, it's not so easy to differentiate an expert from an eloquent/charismatic bullshitter.