Current Events > When someone states their education level and starts correcting you...

(+) Yeah! (+)

For example: You start talking about things that are relatively subjective: politics, economics, and other social sciences. Person B is much older than you and chimes in that they've completed their doctorate and that your opinion is wrong; but since it's relative, there is no clear answer. Do I humbly nod my head and agree to disagree? Or do I get into a heated debate? It's not math or physics.

A doctorate means they're well versed in the specific area they studied, not the supreme master of all knowledge

https://youtu.be/vTSmbMm7MDg

As a poster with his MBA, I can tell you right now that your question is misguided.

If someone who is an expert in the field you're talking about says you're wrong about something, you should probably weigh that heavily. The things people think are "subjective" often really aren't.

Eh, there is no general answer to that.

But "As a doctor, I say you are wrong" is just arrogant bullshit without any arguments to back it up, so call them out to use some arguments beyond that (or at least ask them kindly to enlighten you, if you have to be nice to them).

Iamdepressed posted...

Person B is much older than you and chimes in that they've completed their doctorate and that your opinion is wrong;

I'd tel them to attack the content of the opinion then instead of attacking the person. Highlighting special qualifications doesn't mean squat.

COVxy posted...

If someone who is an expert in the field you're talking about says you're wrong about something, you should probably weigh that heavily. The things people think are "subjective" often really aren't.

But what if their opinion is based on conservative views? Like I mentioned that the world would be a much better place if we "ought" to strive to live a virtuous life. But he said that the world is unfair and that my viewpoints are too idealistic, which it probably is. But that doesn't mean I'm wrong.

That doesn't sound like it intersects any academic discipline.

Iamdepressed posted...

But he said that the world is unfair and that my viewpoints are too idealistic

9/10 times, this whole "you're too idealistic" is a smokescreen for "This won't work because people are dicks and don't work together so I won't even entertain the concept." Which is itself academically disingenuous. It's like that old Bill Nye panel where they were discussing nuclear energy vs renewable energy. One person said it was too utopian to exclusively rely on renewable energy, completely disregarding the fact that the US has barely even tried to legislate or make available that type of energy for use. "Too idealistic" is just a lazy excuse for apathy.

There's a big difference between "Hey, that thing you said about whales is wrong. I know because I'm a whale biologist and I've done years of research regarding that specifically" and "stfu scrub, I have a PhD so you are WRONG!"