# "I have (this, that) and you don't" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320 "2014-09-12T17:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/21 "2014-09-13T00:34:46Z")
Wouldn’t a trained lawyer understand why warrantless searches are sometimes a necessary evil? Whipping the credential around is unbecoming, but it’s completely relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/22 "2014-09-13T03:43:23Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What is a good, succinct response to someone who keeps playing the “I have (degree, qualification) and you don’t?” card as a trump card? A shot of penicillin should clear that up. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/23 "2014-09-13T07:04:47Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Person: “I have a J.D. and you don’t.” > /I] “The jury doesn’t have a JD, that makes me closer to the jury.” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/24 "2014-09-13T10:49:40Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What is a good, succinct response to someone who keeps playing the “I have (degree, qualification) and you don’t?” card as a trump card? > [@Velocity](#): > > "Get back to me when you have a J.D. like I do. > "\* “You have a JD? From which prison…?” or “Please! The only brief you ever filed was _Amicus Cole_…” ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/25 "2014-09-13T14:22:46Z")
Because I do not have a degree in political science, it is wrong for me to have any political opinions? Because I am not a professional football player, it is wrong for me to criticize a football play? Because I am not a professional musician, it is wrong for me to have a negative opinion on a song? ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/26 "2014-09-13T14:46:38Z")
Having book smarts doesn’t mean they have common sense. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/27 "2014-09-13T16:31:05Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Wouldn’t a trained lawyer understand why warrantless searches are sometimes a necessary evil? Whipping the credential around is unbecoming, but it’s completely relevant. If somebody’s training provides insight into an issue, then they should provide that insight, not cite the fact that they’ve received the training. “I have a J.D.” isn’t an argument. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/28 "2014-09-13T16:45:31Z")
I suspect the OP was using the “I have a JD” as an example. He was asking about the general case of arguing by appeal to authority or (more often) appeal to ego superiority. So IMO answers specific to lawyerly thinking are irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/29 "2014-09-13T16:54:53Z")
Fach: Agreed. Wagging around credentials is a dickish move. (Pun TOTALLY intended) ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/30 "2014-09-14T13:49:46Z")
“How did you get (this, that) without knowing (this, that)?” “Were you sleeping when they taught (this, that)?” “I can’t believe they let you graduate without knowing (this, that)!” ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/31 "2014-09-14T16:49:30Z")
Socrates said that the chief attribute of an educated man is that he has at least but only the beginning of an understanding of how ignorant he actually is. _“Wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out and strike it merely to show that you have one”_ - from Lord Chesterfield’s advice to his son ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/32 "2014-09-14T19:08:10Z")
_Whatever happens, we have got The Maxim gun, and they have not._ ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/33 "2014-09-16T14:44:44Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > What is a good, succinct response to someone who keeps playing the “I have (degree, qualification) and you don’t?” card as a trump card? > > - > > Person: “We should revise rules to allow more warrantless searches. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to be afraid of.” > You: “That a really bad slippery slope for society.” > Person: “I have a J.D. and you don’t.” > You: “That has nothing to do with your argument being good or bad.” > Person: “Get back to me when you have a J.D. like I do.” > You: “That’s not relevant to the validity of the argument.” > Person: “Get back to me when you have a J.D. like I do. Until then, your words are nothing but meaningless buzzing in my ears.”\* You: “Fine. Get back to me when you develop some common sense to go along with that o-so-wonderful J.D.” ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/34 "2014-09-17T20:09:35Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Having book smarts doesn’t mean they have common sense. This was something that a math teacher who’s class I took in high school used to say. In fact, he said it so often that we named it “The Meals Theorem” after him. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/35 "2014-09-17T20:26:07Z")
I have a couple of friends who have doctorates, one in science and one in physics. They used to pulll that one me when discussing the physics of the bow and arrow. When it became evident they could not beat me or my theories they stopped playing that card. Even worse than that thier physics only gave them mediocre results when compared to anyone who builds bows. I have to admit that I do consult with them on some projects that do require some heavy duty math now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/36 "2014-09-17T20:31:37Z")
An appeal to authority isn’t a bad argument. Often it is a good one. If someone is actually an expert in some area, the fact that they are an expert gives their opinion more weight - deservedly. The problem here of course is that the appeal to authority is incorrect, as a JD isn’t an authority on the social implications of some law. It’s an appeal to irrelevant authority. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/37 "2014-09-17T20:32:23Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I have a couple of friends who have doctorates, one in science and one in physics. A doctorate in [science](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OmnidisciplinaryScientist)? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/38 "2014-09-17T20:55:40Z")
I would just say : “neither of us are experts on this particular issue. So I would rather just have a conversation, to get to know you and to have a pleasant time. So, what about…” ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320/39 "2014-09-20T22:10:19Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > An appeal to authority isn’t a bad argument. Often it is a good one. If someone is actually an expert in some area, the fact that they are an expert gives their opinion more weight - deservedly. > > The problem here of course is that the appeal to authority is incorrect, as a JD isn’t an authority on the social implications of some law. It’s an appeal to irrelevant authority. Yes, I think expertise is important and I take it seriously. Somebody relying on their credentials _might_ be saying, “Quiet down for a moment while I walk through a few things with you.” Hey you could learn something. They also might be saying, “Your claims conflict with my training, but I can’t specify how. So I’ll appeal to my authority.” Either way, the strategy is the same. Act like Socrates. Admit your ignorance and assume they have knowledge. Start in with the simple questions, the sort of questions that can be hardest to answer incidentally. If your counterparty starts to stutter, remind them of their qualifications and your lack of the same and surely they can answer these simple questions, yes? Depending on how things go you can move on to questions or observations such as, “I’ve noted that professional athletes often have a different take on biomechanics than trained physicists. Do you have a theory why? Which do you believe is the real expert in sports practice as opposed to sports description?” Obviously that can be conveyed with either politeness and diplomacy or snark. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-this-that-and-you-dont/698320.md?page=1)