# Is there any major field of study where we do not have at least one expert? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 25, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614 "2011-02-25T19:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/1 "2011-02-25T19:32:10Z")
Title pretty much says it all. I know we have approximately eleventy-bajillion lawyers. We also have doctors, scientists, engineers, cooks, writers, mechanics, pilots, soldiers, sailors, gun guys, etc. Seems like for just about any topic that comes up, there’s at least one Doper who would probably qualify as an expert witness in the field…or close to it. Do we have all the bases covered? Are we missing any major area of expertise? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/2 "2011-02-25T19:37:29Z")
**Stranger on a Train** would certainly fill in any gaps. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/3 "2011-02-25T19:39:03Z")
What about athletes? I know we have sports _fans_, and our understanding of baseball statistics rivals Nate Silver’s. We clearly can play video games and participate in fantasy leagues. But do we have people who really play the game (other than running or cycling?) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/4 "2011-02-25T19:45:28Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > What about athletes? I know we have sports _fans_, and our understanding of baseball statistics rivals Nate Silver’s. We clearly can play video games and participate in fantasy leagues. But do we have people who really play the game (other than running or cycling?) We have some who claim proficiency in various martial arts but I don’t know if any compete. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/5 "2011-02-25T19:47:21Z")
I dunno about professional athletes, but we have plenty of people that played varsity sports in high school, and probably some who played at the college level as well. Also pretty sure we have people that play golf/tennis/swim regularly. Probably have some that play recreational soccer/softball/basketball and/or participate in martial arts. We’ve got one well known poster who played rugby until suffering a horrific injury. His mother logs in occasionally to update us on his progress. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/6 "2011-02-25T19:47:26Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > We have some who claim proficiency in various martial arts but I don’t know if any compete. Most are certainly replete. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/7 "2011-02-25T19:51:03Z")
Medieval Ethiopian sewage technology? ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/8 "2011-02-25T19:53:06Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Medieval Ethiopian sewage technology? Ethiopian sewage technology is by definition medieval. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/9 "2011-02-25T19:53:30Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Medieval Ethiopian sewage technology? Scratch out hole. Poop into hole. Cover hole. Next question? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/10 "2011-02-25T19:53:46Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Medieval Ethiopian sewage technology? Check with **Dung Beetle**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/11 "2011-02-25T20:19:11Z")
I don’t believe that we have any optimization experts on the boards, although I’d be glad to be proven wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/12 "2011-02-25T20:30:19Z")
I know we’ve had some posters who’ve run for office but do we have anyone who’s holding elective office? ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/13 "2011-02-25T21:05:48Z")
**Nemo** : Keep tabs on **Jonathan Chance** , I think he’s in the running in his election. I think **SpoilerVirgin** got the key shortage. I can’t recall OTTOMH any Dopers who have been professional athletes in the US major leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, NL/AL). ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/14 "2011-02-25T21:06:38Z")
**Dio** ’s an expert on everything. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/15 "2011-02-25T21:11:53Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Medieval Ethiopian sewage technology? I wouldn’t be surprised if **Tamerlane** might not have done a dissertation on it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/16 "2011-02-25T21:11:56Z")
Do we have any experts on eschewing obfuscation? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/17 "2011-02-25T21:15:27Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > I don’t believe that we have any optimization experts on the boards, although I’d be glad to be proven wrong. Optimizing what? I did a lot of work on optimizing operating systems in the late '70s. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I know we’ve had some posters who’ve run for office but do we have anyone who’s holding elective office? If local offices count, I’m sure I’ve seen a number of councilmembers and such. My wife was a school board chair. > [@Musicat](#): > > Do we have any experts on eschewing obfuscation? That’s what I do for a living. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/18 "2011-02-25T21:24:26Z")
Do we have any merchant seamen here? Commercial fishermen? Roughnecks? Miners? Lots of skilled blue collar jobs seem lacking. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/19 "2011-02-25T21:33:21Z")
There’s probably a shortage of practicing Amish folk in here. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614/20 "2011-02-25T21:38:22Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Lots of skilled blue collar jobs seem lacking. Well, blue-collar workers would tend not to post to a board like this one. However, it may be that some of us spent part of our lives in blue-collar jobs. I once worked for 6 months in a steel mill, the first 3 months as a cleaner, and the second 3 months as a [Brinell tester](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinell_scale) (an occupation that I had not even heard of before I started doing the work). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-major-field-of-study-where-we-do-not-have-at-least-one-expert/572614.md?page=2)