Comments on: Credentials: Do You Have Any Idea Who You’re Talking To? http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: abby76 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33559 abby76 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:36:57 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33559 I find the 'nacle kind of intimidating with all the credentials. It is funny that I seem to do better on forums where some of the people have credentials as well. But I don't think there is as much emphasis on credentials there in the sense that you have spoken of here. I am using my screen name on a couple of forums here. Also, I have linked to a friends web site that links to his forum. This friend does not have traditional credentials. He has done a lot of personal study as he loves to learn. He is shy about promoting the blog so I sometimes link to it should someone be interested in checking it out. It is all free and all good. Abby76/Barb I find the ‘nacle kind of intimidating with all the credentials. It is funny that I seem to do better on forums where some of the people have credentials as well. But I don’t think there is as much emphasis on credentials there in the sense that you have spoken of here. I am using my screen name on a couple of forums here. Also, I have linked to a friends web site that links to his forum. This friend does not have traditional credentials. He has done a lot of personal study as he loves to learn. He is shy about promoting the blog so I sometimes link to it should someone be interested in checking it out. It is all free and all good. Abby76/Barb

]]> By: Matt W. http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33528 Matt W. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:13:59 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33528 Geoff and Jacob: It's not just that he didn't believe the Book of Mormon was true. He also showed severe disdain for anyone who did believe the Book of Mormon was true, which is, to me, being a Jerk in the realm of Mormon Theology. Also, the whole swearing elder "holier than though" clique thing really just rubs me the wrong way. Geoff and Jacob:

It’s not just that he didn’t believe the Book of Mormon was true. He also showed severe disdain for anyone who did believe the Book of Mormon was true, which is, to me, being a Jerk in the realm of Mormon Theology. Also, the whole swearing elder “holier than though” clique thing really just rubs me the wrong way.

]]> By: Seraphine http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33511 Seraphine Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:07:55 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33511 Belladonna, it seems to me that there's a difference between saying "I'm a Bishop, so I'm more righteous and everything I say is correct" and saying something like "As a Bishop, I saw ____ behind the scenes, and you might want to take this into consideration when you think about issue X." The former is using credentials to raise yourself above others, and the latter is using credentials to share information that another person may not know because they haven't had your set of experiences. Which I think is what you are saying in your last paragraph. Belladonna, it seems to me that there’s a difference between saying “I’m a Bishop, so I’m more righteous and everything I say is correct” and saying something like “As a Bishop, I saw ____ behind the scenes, and you might want to take this into consideration when you think about issue X.” The former is using credentials to raise yourself above others, and the latter is using credentials to share information that another person may not know because they haven’t had your set of experiences. Which I think is what you are saying in your last paragraph.

]]> By: Belladonna http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33510 Belladonna Mon, 20 Aug 2007 03:42:05 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33510 36. FoxyJ, said: What I really hate more than people waving around academic credentials are the people (actually I’ve only seen a few) who assert things like “I’ve been a bishop and a high priest group leader” to prove their activity/righteousness/worthiness. Bugs the heck out of me! I'm curious - are you referring only to when someone uses this in a specific topic discussion or would you also consider it annyoing / irrelevant in an author's bio on a blog? I ask for a specific reason...there's a brand new LDS blog that's been coming together for a while and is soon to go public... those of us who are writing the initial posts were asked to post brief bios for the benefit of readers. Some are choosing to state past callings and some are not. How do others feel about this? I don't think having had XYZ leadership position in any way conveys that a person is smarter, more righteous or worthy, or more qualified in most respects - but it CAN give them a different view of things. (for example, someone who has been an RS President generally will have some different views about visiting teaching and church welfare than someone who never has) 36. FoxyJ, said:
What I really hate more than people waving around academic credentials are the people (actually I’ve only seen a few) who assert things like “I’ve been a bishop and a high priest group leader” to prove their activity/righteousness/worthiness. Bugs the heck out of me!

I’m curious – are you referring only to when someone uses this in a specific topic discussion or would you also consider it annyoing / irrelevant in an author’s bio on a blog?

I ask for a specific reason…there’s a brand new LDS blog that’s been coming together for a while and is soon to go public… those of us who are writing the initial posts were asked to post brief bios for the benefit of readers. Some are choosing to state past callings and some are not.

How do others feel about this?

I don’t think having had XYZ leadership position in any way conveys that a person is smarter, more righteous or worthy, or more qualified in most respects – but it CAN give them a different view of things. (for example, someone who has been an RS President generally will have some different views about visiting teaching and church welfare than someone who never has)

]]> By: jessawhy http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33509 jessawhy Mon, 20 Aug 2007 03:00:14 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33509 queno, I would also add that who you're married to is a big credential, at least for women (feminist arguments on hold for the moment) Beginning a sentence with "My husband is a stake president" lends itself to more listening ears than, "my husband the nursery leader." I would just attach that to "type of calling" I imagine the opposite doesn't really hold true, however. That's what makes the bloggernacle so interesting. First, you can't always tell if a blogger is a man or woman, but when you do, you can't judge them based on this list above. It's very refreshing, actually. Also, I think marriage status is an important credential in the church as well. Single members, divorced or never married, seem to lack some credentials in the church, unfortunately. queno,
I would also add that who you’re married to is a big credential, at least for women (feminist arguments on hold for the moment)
Beginning a sentence with “My husband is a stake president” lends itself to more listening ears than, “my husband the nursery leader.”
I would just attach that to “type of calling”
I imagine the opposite doesn’t really hold true, however. That’s what makes the bloggernacle so interesting. First, you can’t always tell if a blogger is a man or woman, but when you do, you can’t judge them based on this list above. It’s very refreshing, actually.
Also, I think marriage status is an important credential in the church as well. Single members, divorced or never married, seem to lack some credentials in the church, unfortunately.

]]> By: queuno http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33459 queuno Sun, 19 Aug 2007 05:11:08 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33459 I was sitting in the adult session of our stake conference tonight and one of the speakers made a comment that made me think of this thread. In a nutshell -- maybe our real credentialism in the Church isn't academic -- but a blend of geographic, tenure, and depth of Church experience. If you're going to base your testimony on the arm of the flesh, will be be from a Utah Mormon who has been in the Church for 15 generations but hasn't read Bushman, or a lifelong-Mormon southerner who never went to BYU but knows his Bible inside and out? [Just to pick two polar opposites.] One can argue that academically, the general Church membership uses credentials in a binary format with these yes/no questions: BYU graduate grad school MBA Returned missionary Married in temple (particularly for the Relief Society) Possess current temple recommend Holds a calling (non-binary) "Type of calling" Get outside the faux-academic discussions we have here in the nacle and our credentialism does not consist of degrees. I was sitting in the adult session of our stake conference tonight and one of the speakers made a comment that made me think of this thread.

In a nutshell — maybe our real credentialism in the Church isn’t academic — but a blend of geographic, tenure, and depth of Church experience.

If you’re going to base your testimony on the arm of the flesh, will be be from a Utah Mormon who has been in the Church for 15 generations but hasn’t read Bushman, or a lifelong-Mormon southerner who never went to BYU but knows his Bible inside and out? [Just to pick two polar opposites.]

One can argue that academically, the general Church membership uses credentials in a binary format with these yes/no questions:

BYU graduate
grad school
MBA
Returned missionary
Married in temple (particularly for the Relief Society)
Possess current temple recommend
Holds a calling
(non-binary) “Type of calling”

Get outside the faux-academic discussions we have here in the nacle and our credentialism does not consist of degrees.

]]> By: Ziff http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33452 Ziff Sat, 18 Aug 2007 22:29:02 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33452 <blockquote>By the way, Ziff, I know you mentioned you might be able to make it to the AZ snacker. I hope you do, it would be nice to meet you in person.</blockquote> Thanks! I do hope to be there, and I look forward to meeting you too.

By the way, Ziff, I know you mentioned you might be able to make it to the AZ snacker. I hope you do, it would be nice to meet you in person.

Thanks! I do hope to be there, and I look forward to meeting you too.

]]> By: Jessawhy http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33426 Jessawhy Sat, 18 Aug 2007 04:30:48 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33426 Thanks, Ziff. I have used that feature on LDSelect. I usually only do it for bloggers I already like, though. (and so I can remember where I've posted comments) But, as the bloggernacle is like a real community in some ways, there really are no short cuts in getting to know people. Someone new will have to establish themselves to others, and we all make different judgments anyway based on our own experiences. By the way, Ziff, I know you mentioned you might be able to make it to the AZ snacker. I hope you do, it would be nice to meet you in person. Thanks, Ziff. I have used that feature on LDSelect. I usually only do it for bloggers I already like, though. (and so I can remember where I’ve posted comments)
But, as the bloggernacle is like a real community in some ways, there really are no short cuts in getting to know people. Someone new will have to establish themselves to others, and we all make different judgments anyway based on our own experiences.
By the way, Ziff, I know you mentioned you might be able to make it to the AZ snacker. I hope you do, it would be nice to meet you in person.

]]> By: CS Eric http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33368 CS Eric Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:45:15 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33368 I only have one instance of credentialism that has happened to me in the Bloggernacle. I said something in one thread to the effect that, often the first thing people do when I tell them I am a lawyer is tell me a lawyer joke. One of the permabloggers at T&S sent me a private email that day, starting it like this: "I worked for a lawyer for xx years, and my favorite lawyer joke is..." It still made me laugh. I only have one instance of credentialism that has happened to me in the Bloggernacle. I said something in one thread to the effect that, often the first thing people do when I tell them I am a lawyer is tell me a lawyer joke. One of the permabloggers at T&S sent me a private email that day, starting it like this: “I worked for a lawyer for xx years, and my favorite lawyer joke is…”

It still made me laugh.

]]> By: Ziff http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33357 Ziff Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:53:54 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2007/08/13/credentials-do-you-have-any-idea-who-youre-talking-to/#comment-33357 Jessawhy (#18): <blockquote>How does someone who is new to the bloggernacle assess value comments from various authors?</blockquote> You asked about whether there's a bloggernacle directory. There isn't that I know of, other than the bio information on the individual blogs. One possibility for finding out about a particular individual is to use DKL's <a href="http://www.ldselect.org/" rel="nofollow">LDSelect</a> "Latest Comments" feature to find recent discussions they're involved in. That way you can at least read comments made by the same person across different topics, potentially on different blogs, and perhaps get some sense of what they're like. Sorry--I know this is far from perfect, but it might be a start. Jessawhy (#18):

How does someone who is new to the bloggernacle assess value comments from various authors?

You asked about whether there’s a bloggernacle directory. There isn’t that I know of, other than the bio information on the individual blogs.

One possibility for finding out about a particular individual is to use DKL’s LDSelect “Latest Comments” feature to find recent discussions they’re involved in. That way you can at least read comments made by the same person across different topics, potentially on different blogs, and perhaps get some sense of what they’re like. Sorry–I know this is far from perfect, but it might be a start.

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