[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Carl Childress
Quote:
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An authority, after all, is one whose "opinion" on a given subject is entitled to receive more weight than an ordinary "civilian." One becomes an authority by virtue of his education, training, experience, publications, and position in the area of discussion...
An answer by Carl Childress is "authoritative" EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE WRONG. I have credentials spanning nearly a half century. I have spent more than a quarter century placing my opinions and "rulings" out in public for everyone to see and dissect. The evidence is clear that most umpires who read my material agree I know what I'm talking about, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T AGREE with what I say...
Finally, exactly what is the benefit of "authoritative opinion"?
It's evidence, of course. Every court in the land accepts it. In criminal trials the prosecution's authorities and the defense's authorities go head to head, which only proves that someone's authoritative opinion may not always be right. We all know what happens when two umpires make opposite calls on the same play.
Mainly, though, when we read an authority, we have a feeling of confidence: What he says is LIKELY to be right. Therefore, we can use what he says in our own games with the assurance that we won't look like fools.
WE MIGHT BE WRONG, but we'll be wrong confidently.
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I think Jim Porter and Carl Childress have made excellent points about the education of an umpire. If I am having car troubles, and I know little more than how to change the oil, I could check with the neighbor next door who as equally qualified to render an opinion. I may be lucky and he had the exact same situation. I would probably feel more confident and more likely to get a more reliable answer on a consistent basis if I asked the mechanic who has serviced my cars for the past 15 years.
When I asked the question about the home run ball that rebounds off the TOP of the wall (see other thread) I thought I knew that it was a home run but I wasnt sure why. More importantly I could not clearly explain it to others. When I brought the authoritative opinion of Papa C to a meeting last night at Umbertos Restaurant, there were a few who were impressed. Some asked who CC is. When I mentioned BRD and the fact that a couple of these guys were at the high school meeting at which Carl spoke about ten years ago they were a bit more accepting.
I appreciate a mechanic who can tell the subtle differences in sound that an engine makes. I think I am fortunate when that mechanic is available at all times of the day and I really value the fact that he WANTS to show you how to recognize these signs for yourself. In some places we call those kinds of mechanics, TEACHERS. Jim Simms / NYC