I used to be of a mindset that the experts and officials probably had things under control. Then two things happened. First, I became an expert in a field. It’s truly a humbling experience (it isn’t bullshit when people say that, as I’d previously assumed). It was a small field, mind you (LEGO robotics), but I had the experience of being at the absolute pinnacle of a scene, being sought after for advice, and realizing how difficult it is to give out advice that generalizes, realizing how easy it is to lose your relevancy and/or your sharpness without in any way losing the appearance/perception of being relevant and sharp. I learned this at the age of 16.
Second, I became a published scientist of sorts (at 21, while an undergrad). I realized just how political the game was. How uncreative and anti-meritocratic. I’m still a believer in the core principles which underlie science, and I ascribe great value and weight to the current scientific consensus on a great many topics – but only up to a point. Science is a capitalist/bureaucratic enterprise. A great many noble minds get into it with the goal of discovering truth and beauty, but the system is not optimized to that end.
Third (sorry, it’s three now), I had a health scare, was in the hospital for two weeks, and have proceeded to live with chronic pain for 5+ years. In exploring all manner of healing modalities, I came to understand how little our modern medical industry gets right about healing as a concept, let alone as a practical goal (more on that later). Our healthcare system, as it turns out, was designed by capitalists. Like every other capitalist structure that has survived into 2021, it exists to enrich shareholders and is optimized to that end.
Please don’t interpret this as an anti-capitalist stance. Perverse incentives are the gentlest explanation for the corruption and degeneracy endemic among our experts and officials, but they aren’t the only plausible explanation.
The point of this musing was supposed to be: I’ve been an expert. I’ve been an official. It’s a humbling experience. I enjoyed the power, the respect, the attention. I hated the fact of others’ reliance on me. I was over it by the time I hit my 20s.
Experts are people who are highly accomplished in a given field. But past results don’t always predict future success. With each passing year, my recollection of specifically what I did to achieve LEGO robotics glory fades slightly. And with each passing year, the world of LEGO robotics competition & strategy gets bigger. In objective terms, my relevancy has been fading exponentially since 2006, yet I have maintained my expert status to this day. People ask me questions and hang on every word to this day. That kind of power can easily be abused.
This is how-come we end up with officials (appointed leaders of organizations) who have impressive resumes yet no practical relevancy. If there was a World LEGO Robotics Organization, I could surely get a spot on the board. Yet I haven’t followed every detail of the latest releases or rule changes, and I don’t intend to.
Anyway…
Expertise is overrated, and officialdom is a racket.
Be well, everyone.