11688 Oh yea, and what are your qualifications?!

After a recent thread where the credentials and qualifications of a member were called into question, should members declare their credentials before giving advice?

How would we know that the stated credentials were true?

For example, I live full time in Abruzzo, so if someone asks if there is a Chinese restaurant in Teramo, I feel qualified to reply because I have been to a Chinese restaurant in Teramo.

On the other hand I never give advice on house restoration because I don’t know the first thing about it.

I’m not sure such an idea would be practical or workable. It might stop the posters who know nothing and have no expertise or advice but just need to post anyway, but then again it might stifle some of the lively debate that goes on here and the incidental, but often interesting, information which gets posted.

It might lead to less advice but of a more informed nature.

It might mean people were more confident of advice received.

It might lead to more opportunistic ‘back door advertising’

It might mean that is no one knows the answer, a post gets no replies at all.

Anyway, as everyone is qualified to answer this just by being a member of the forum, I’d be interested to hear what you think.

Category

Italy Magazine Forums - Announcements & Queries - No Longer Applicable

Oh I forgot.

Would you count the ability to do a Google search as a qualification?

[quote=Nielo;111145]Oh I forgot.

Would you count the ability to do a Google search as a qualification?[/quote]

Absolutely - the ability to click a mouse and type into a little box takes years of study and practical experience and I would run for President on those qualifications alone if someone hadn't already beaten me to it. However, I'm seriously thinking of standing in the next local by-elections on behalf of the "Change Avatar Precipitevolissimevolmente" party.

[quote=juliancoll;111148]Absolutely - the ability to click a mouse and type into a little box takes years of study and practical experience and I would run for President on those qualifications alone if someone hadn't already beaten me to it. However, I'm seriously thinking of standing in the next local by-elections on behalf of the "Change Avatar Precipitevolissimevolmente" party.[/quote]

I think you are up against a ‘Monster Raving Loony’ candidate, but good luck.:laughs:

Now what do you think of the idea?

Which idea? :laughs:

[quote=Nielo;111144]After a recent thread where the credentials and qualifications of a member were called into question, should members declare their credentials before giving advice?

How would we know that the stated credentials were true?

For example, I live full time in Abruzzo, so if someone asks if there is a Chinese restaurant in Teramo, I feel qualified to reply because I have been to a Chinese restaurant in Teramo.

On the other hand I never give advice on house restoration because I don’t know the first thing about it.

It might lead to less advice but of a more informed nature.

It might mean people were more confident of advice received.

It might lead to more opportunistic ‘back door advertising’

It might mean that is no one knows the answer, a post gets no replies at all.

Anyway, as everyone is qualified to answer this just by being a member of the forum, I’d be interested to hear what you think.[/quote]

dear nielo,i don't know to what you were referring to,this is the first time i hear all this.
but i don't think a forum where only doctors,lawyers,architects,builders or whatever would be very interesting..personally i usually avoid writing in anything to do with the forum itself but as long as it exists it is nothing more than a rag tag and bob tail collection of people who can (more or less) freely comunicate.one doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to realise that some people here don't know much/anything,others pretend to,some know quite a lot,some only from their own personal experience in perhaps only one place.i think that the whole question reflects the fact that there are not a few people these days who rather than say contacting the appropriate agency/company/authority/person or even asking the next door neighbour go into internet and expect all the answers to their life they can expect to get what they get if they believe everything they find in their pc..or should i say caz** loro.

I think we need to go back a step. The purpose of this forum is to exchange info, experiences and engage in friendly discussion. To ensure this info flows freely every potential (and existing) member should be professionally vetted to ensure they:

[LIST]
[*]can type
[*]can spell
[*]have a broad knowledge of where Italy is
[*]possess at least Hons level qualifications in everything (or have flown airplanes professionally)
[/LIST]From memory there is a company that offers this service [URL="http://www.ghiandasniffers.com"]www.ghiandasniffers.com[/URL] (just kidding) :bigergrin:
"Free speech, not for us"

Well, I'm very good at making tiaras out of toilet roll holders, shiny sweet papers and a Pritt stick. I've also had kittens.

[quote=Nielo;111144]After a recent thread where the credentials and qualifications of a member were called into question, should members declare their credentials before giving advice?

How would we know that the stated credentials were true?........
.........I’m not sure such an idea would be practical or workable. It might stop the posters who know nothing and have no expertise or advice but just need to post anyway, but then again it might stifle some of the lively debate that goes on here and the incidental, but often interesting, information which gets posted.......
.....Anyway, as everyone is qualified to answer this just by being a member of the forum, I’d be interested to hear what you think.[/quote]

Its a difficult question to answer definitively - because there are probably more than one 'correct answer.

I respond to postings on several level, including;-
Health and Safety - I'm a Chartered Safety & Health Practitioner
Civil Engineering/Building - I'm a Chartered Engineer
Travel - I've travelled to Italy by train, plane and car [and worked for 35 years for the railways in the UK]
House Purchase - Done it
Renovations - I've had [local] people do work on my place in Italy
etc etc
and I can Google - which I do when a question raised interests me

plus I sometimes try to do witty response to some posts [and fail miserably at times

Restricting the responders to posting to certain 'qualifications would, in my opinion, weaken the Forum
My view is that people should, in the main, respond to postings for several reasons, including;-
1. To pass on professional knowledge
2. To pass on personal experience
2. To try to be helpful/supportive to others
4. To try to raise a smile, where appropriate
I'm sure others can expand this list

What posters need to remember [and we are all guilty of this a times], is that 'points scoring' and 'be-littling' serves only to weaken the Forum. We also need to accept that sometimes we annoy others [hopefully not intentionally], and that its costs nothing to say sorry [and mean it]

Neilo - I'm pretty sure that this doesn't really answer your questions properly, but I hope it helps.

[quote]By Alan H: ".......
1. To pass on professional knowledge
2. To pass on personal experience
2. To try to be helpful/supportive to others
4. To try to raise a smile, where appropriate

I'm sure others can expand this list[/quote]That's a great Starter For One Alan... Can I add to it?

5. The ability to 'proof read' before hitting the 'Submit Post' button
6. The patience to investigate 'search' results [U][I]before [/I][/U]trying to be 'the first with an answer'.
7. To furnish (if possible/available) evidence when passing on 'personal experience' information.
8. (I know [I]you[/I] said it too, but it bears repeating....) Maintain a sense of humour - and boy, do you need it sometimes! :bigergrin:
8. To try and keep the knees strapped tightly to your chair and thus avoid those nasty '[I]knee jerk reactions[/I]' that we are ALL prone to at times.
9. To ensure that the brain is engaged BEFORE letting out the clutch on the mouth!

We could also each be magnanimous and allow others to point out our own spelling mistakes ([I]aka 'typo's'[/I]) and then perhaps arrange a prize for the most improvement shown every quarter... (now [I]that[/I] [I]would[/I] cut down on the need for several suggestions made on this thread).

Nielo - do you think we ought to post any work/education related qualifications we might have too? Or do you think that we could - in the most part - get away with just [I]inferring[/I] that we ARE 'up to the job'? :rollingeyes:

I just want to know if I should mention my PhD Masters in Cosmic Meteor Science - :GEEK: you know, the one I (bought) earned from the University of Lagos last year... or my Doctorate in applied gibberish?

[quote=Carole B;111166]

We could also each be magnanimous and allow others to point out our own spelling mistakes ([I]aka 'typo's'[/I]) ...... Or do you think that we could - in the most part - get away with just [I]inferring[/I] that we ARE 'up to the job'?

[/quote]

I think you mean [I]implying[/I] Carole :bigergrin:

Or simply, if you know 'Sweet FA', keep it shut! :yes:
Just a quick trip to Italyblog land now back to i miei compiti. Ciao ragazzi ! :smile:

I actually think that most members here are pretty discerning and can spot a bull sh1tter quite Precipitevolissimevolmente.

I posed the question about qualifications because it came up on another thread.

As for

[quote=Carole B;111166]

5. The ability to 'proof read' before hitting the 'Submit Post' button
………………..

I have a sick note from my mum, Mrs Magoo, so can I be excused?
:bigergrin:

And I left school rather a long time ago:laughs:
I am not the worlds best speller but have always been reassured by something I once read which said actually only very clever (or perhaps very stupid) people are rubbish spellers you may draw your own conclusions on that one.
A

I can juggle three balls

I could imitate a trimphone once, but there isn't much call for it now

I can say "you have big breasts" in Russian

These accomplishmens have been of very variable value to me over the years.

Strange qualifications we pick up along the way, Robert has an "O" level in navigation, so thats your shipping queries answered, and I once did some weird thing which gave me a qualification in public speaking....speech anyone?
Anyone else have any of these useless things tucked away in their CVs?
A

[quote=gradese;111184]I can juggle three balls

I could imitate a trimphone once, but there isn't much call for it now

I can say "you have big breasts" in Russian

These accomplishmens have been of very variable value to me over the years.[/quote]

I'm impressed Gradese. I can only do one of them. :yes:. I bet the trimphone imitation was a consistent "big earner" though.:smile:

_ _ _ _ _ . _ . . . . . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ . . . Anybody else?

No spacing Charles!!!

.- -. -.-- --- -. . ..- .--. ..-. --- .-. .- - …. .-. . .- -.. .. -. -- --- .-. … . - -.-. --- -.. . ..--..

-.-

[size="3"][b]... .... ..- - [COLOR="white"]x[/COLOR] - .... . [COLOR="white"]x[/COLOR] ..-. ..- -.-. -.- [COLOR="white"]x[/COLOR] ..- .--. [COLOR="white"]x[/COLOR] ... .- .-.. .-.. -.--[/b][/size]

… .- … .- … .- !!! .-.. --- .-..

[quote=Ghianda;111188]I'm impressed Gradese. I can only do one of them. :yes:. I bet the trimphone imitation was a consistent "big earner" though.:smile:[/quote]

I should have added that I can do none of them well

That's ok, none of the above can do morse code properly with one exception:bigergrin:

[quote=ghianda;111199]that's ok, none of the above can do morse code properly with one exception:bigergrin:[/quote]

.-- .... --- / .. ... / - .... . / . -..- -.-. . .--. - .. --- -. --..-- / .- -. -.. / .-- .... .- - / .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --.- ..- .- .-.. .. ..-. .. -.-. .- - .. --- -. ... / - --- / .--- ..- -.. --. . ..--..

-.-

[quote=Nielo;111201].-- .... --- / .. ... / - .... . / . -..- -.-. . .--. - .. --- -. --..-- / .- -. -.. / .-- .... .- - / .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --.- ..- .- .-.. .. ..-. .. -.-. .- - .. --- -. ... / - --- / .--- ..- -.. --. . ..--..

-.-[/quote]

- .... . --- -. .-.. -.-- --- -. . .-- .... .. -.-. .... - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - . -.. ..-. ..- .-.. .-.. -.-- .-- .- ... - .... . --- -. . ..-. .-. --- -- .- -. . .- .--. --- .-.. .. - .- -. ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. .-.-.- .-. . --.- ..- .- .-.. .. ..-. ..- -.-. .- - .. --- -. ... --..-- - .... . -- --- ... - .-. . .-.. . ...- .- -. - .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. -... . - .-- . -. - -.-- ..-. .. ...- . -- . - .-. . ... -... .-. . .- ... - ... - .-. --- -.- . :laughs:

[quote=Ghianda;111205]- .... . --- -. .-.. -.-- --- -. . .-- .... .. -.-. .... - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - . -.. ..-. ..- .-.. .-.. -.-- .-- .- ... - .... . --- -. . ..-. .-. --- -- .- -. . .- .--. --- .-.. .. - .- -. ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. .-.-.- .-. . --.- ..- .- .-.. .. ..-. ..- -.-. .- - .. --- -. ... --..-- - .... . -- --- ... - .-. . .-.. . ...- .- -. - .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. -... . - .-- . -. - -.-- ..-. .. ...- . -- . - .-. . ... -... .-. . .- ... - ... - .-. --- -.- . :laughs:[/quote]

no ,,,,,,,,,,really .......that is too funny for words :laughs::laughs:

That’s a really impressive qualification Ghianda!:laughs:

[quote=Charles Phillips;111174]I think you mean [I]implying[/I] Carole :bigergrin:[/quote]

You're quite right, I could have used 'imply' Charles - but having done a quick (Google) :rollingeyes: search in my thesuarus I chose [U]that[/U] one to satisfy a [I]quick knee jerk reaction[/I]!
Seemed a good choice at the time...:reallyembarrassed:

The actual choice was quite good :
[B]Infer[/B] v
deduce, derive, extrapolate, conclude, come to a conclusion, reason, assume, presume, surmise, gather, understand, allude formal conjecture. [I]colloq[/I]. figure out
infer or imply?

Oh - and as for all the morse code messages - have a heart please!

This '[I]old crone[/I]' [IMG]http://www.999responders.co.uk/images/avatars/gallery/1/animatedcrone.gif[/IMG] hasn't been a Girl Guide for 50 odd years and 'that' qualification is, I confess, a tad rusty! [IMG]http://www.handsonguiding.co.uk/images/badges/badge-4.jpg[/IMG]

Ah well, Carole, perhaps it is the Google thesaurus....more probably I should simply credit you with a great generosity of spirit!
(Which is to say that you are more than welcome to infer that every jewel which drops from my keyboard is mega-carat, which is not to say that I seek to imply this.) :bigergrin:

I'll see your reef knot, and raise you a sheepshank!

dahditdit dahdahdah dahditdit!!!

Carol - please may I have your old crone witch to use as my avatar? :bigergrin:

You lot just can’t take anything seriously can you?:laughs:

[quote=juliancoll;111223]Carol - please may I have your old crone witch to use as my avatar? :bigergrin:[/quote]

Of course - It's all yours....

[URL]http://www.999responders.co.uk/images/avatars/gallery/1/animatedcrone.gif[/URL]

[quote=Nielo;111239]You lot just can’t take anything seriously can you?:laughs:[/quote]

Serious - Schmerious!
You gotta be joking :swoon:

How do we know what you were saying about us in morse code? I reckon that was [I]dastardly plot[/I] copied from the "I'm Bored" novel! I'm not a morse translator and I don't even know one.

Couldn't we have semaphore messages instead? Much easier on my poor old (tired) eyes!
[CENTER][IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Semaphore_Sierra.svg/90px-Semaphore_Sierra.svg.png[/IMG]
[/CENTER]

[quote=Carole B;111244].............How do we know what you were saying about us in morse code? ............. I'm not a morse translator and I don't even know one. .............[/quote]

[url=http://morsecode.scphillips.com/jtranslator.html]Morse Code Translator[/url]

Oh I see alan h is a qualified Morse Code Translator! Well I have a first class degree with Hons in Hindsight!