Disagreement with Reader: Finding Your Own Way
About 2 days ago a comment was left on a website that I was reading. The article on the website was 
talking about how to follow through on your New Year’s Resolutions and it was actually a pretty insightful piece of writing.
Although I don’t typically read other site’s comment sections I decided to read this articles…
To my surprise I found a few of the commenter’s disagreed with the writer. One particular commenter said that the need for guidance or looking to an expert in a particular field was unnecessary and over-rated.
I couldn’t believe the comment and whole heartedly disagree.
Personally, whenever I am looking to cut years off my learning curve when I begin studying a new subject, I go directly to someone I view as having mastered that topic. They have spent years working through trial and error and by studying their teachings I will probably save myself from having to go through many of the same errors they made. I also believe that I will learn at a faster rate and in less time since they have done a lot of the leg work in researching what should be studied.
So although I believe we must eventually do what we feel is best for us, we must first have a basis and background for that decision. If not, what are we really doing? Are we claiming to know more in a subject than someone who spent their life devoted to that topic?
I don’t think we always need to have all the answers and luckily there are many people out there we can call on when we need help… as long as we’re open and willing to learn.
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Posted by: Stephen Cabral | Jan 6, 2009 6:36:06 AM
Thanks for all your comments. I think the best thing that anyone can do is offer their guidance and hope that it reaches the other person in a meaningful way in which they understand and will do something with that new information.
Posted by: Tom Seabourne | Jan 5, 2009 7:12:37 PM
What about the fire safety "expert" requiring all doors be kept shut in a Junior High School on a stifling day in the middle of the summer...
Or the fitness "expert" who claims you can "lose 5 pounds in 7 days with a fast and easy program"...
Posted by: Jordan Hardy | Jan 5, 2009 12:17:43 PM
I think it depends on what subject you're talking about, and how qualified the expert is. For instance, I've read of psychologists who did more harm than good for their patients, or at least left them stagnant. In that case it's probably useless, but then you should find somebody more qualified.
Is that perhaps what the commenter was talking about, or were they just rejecting the usefulness of counsel altogether?
Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Jan 5, 2009 11:34:45 AM
Hi Steve, I absolutely agree with you! I cannot tell you how often people will come to me for help saying "they know what to do but just don't do it.."
That may be certainly part of it but more often than not they really don't know what they should be doing. Then they are amazed how they get better results under a little guidance! -Elaine Murphy, BA, CNC
Posted by: Steve Parker, M.D. | Jan 5, 2009 10:51:23 AM
You are right, Stephen.
I've noticed that everybody thinks they're on expert on diet; I guess because we all eat.
I bet your commentator was "anonymous," which makes it easy to spout off without consequences.
We all know the experts are not always right. I'm thinking about U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of a banking and finance committee, who months before the current housing fiasco said that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were in fine shape. Then we had to bail them out with $250 billion.
-Steve
