# What's your area of expertise? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 26, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007 "2002-12-26T19:07:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Fosfero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@Fosfero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fosfero)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/81 "2002-12-30T20:59:29Z")
Beekeeping in temperate and tropical regions. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/82 "2002-12-30T21:32:57Z")
Pardon the pun, but I can change the shit out of a diaper. I currently have three in diapers right now. Line `em up and I can change three in less than a minute - poopies included. Electrical installations - from being an electrician and a construction worker for twelve years. Love to work on autos - have a muscle car as a hobby. Have also done things like change the heads on a `96 avenger and a 92 grand am. Seem to have a knack for common sense stuff that goes right over other peoples heads. Awsome at billiards, but so far there hasn`t been a call for that talent, except when I`m out of money at the bar and I need a drink. I am an expert at spoonerism and making up words. (see username) ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/83 "2002-12-30T22:59:55Z")
Canadian involvement in WWI The wives of Henry VIII Rosa Luxemburg After drinking vast quantities of spirits, I have a tendency to want to expound upon these topics, which makes me feared and resented. ---
**Author:** ![Lostboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Lostboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lostboy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/84 "2002-12-30T23:35:41Z")
Since its my job I could tell you more about soft wheat flour than you really want to know. I’m no expert, but I’m the guru in our company when it comes to running amylographs or near infrared spectroscopy(and other things 99.9% of the population doesn’t care about) ---
**Author:** ![Squooshed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Squooshed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squooshed)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/85 "2002-12-30T23:53:21Z")
From my job: Product liability law, especially aviation-related. From my interests: Baseball (history, modern analysis), football and basketball to a lesser extent, some knowledge regarding science fiction Otherwise, as many others here have said, I know a little about a lot of subjects. ---
**Author:** ![MadScientistMatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@MadScientistMatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadScientistMatt)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/86 "2002-12-31T01:15:19Z")
Well, I have a B.S.E degree in Mechanical Engineering, and I currently work with industrial lasers. That’s a pretty specialized field, and I doubt even 0.1% of the population knows how to tune the cutting conditions on a laser cutting machine. I’ve also picked up some interesting information on other kinds of metal fabrication and quality control from my job. In my spare time, I like to tinker with cars. Currently I’m trying to wrap up a turbo installation on a '66 Dodge Dart. I love fielding questions about cars - or general engineering and energy related questions, too. I also have some interest in religion, cults, playing guitar (and yes, I am a Blue Oyster Cult fan…) and some other assorted subjects, but hardly at the 99.9th percentile level. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/87 "2002-12-31T02:33:14Z")
Logistics of transport (not really 99%, but certainly above 85%) Local Customs law (I am a licensed broker, but don’t work doing that) Dominican cuisine Come to think of it I am no expert at anything. I look up to you guys with awe and admiration (and a tint of envy ☹ ). ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/88 "2002-12-31T04:46:55Z")
In the top ranks of _anything_? Not even close. ::sighs:: At one point I was very, very good at library reference work. I loved setting people at their ease, finding out exactly what they _really_ wanted to know and then digging it out. But tops? Nah. I’ve worked w/ too many exceptional people to fool myself about that one. And I got kicked up to administration and have lost many of the skills. I’m fairly good at crosswords and poker. I used to be an obsessive mystery reader, even to the cheesiest stuff, but have lapsed badly in recent years. (The SDMB cut into my time on that one!) Actually I’m a hardcore generalist who doesn’t have much to show for it. Except for enjoying the trip of course. Veb ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/89 "2003-01-01T04:31:22Z")
**Military experience:** - Practical Nuclear Physics. - Operating certain types of Naval Nuclear Reactors. - Submarines, especially Sturgeon class with some familliarity with Permit class and Flight One and Two Los Angeles class. - Rubber & Plastics, as they pertain to Submarine Repair, and simple marine applications. - Inside and outside Marine Electrical Systems, mostly military. - Electric Motor Rewind. - Shipboard combat. - Naval warfare. - Light construction technique. - Light and medium construction equipment operation. **Military and Civil experience:** - Basic Electronics - Basic Computer hardware. - Basic Software & operating systems. - Software development & project management. - LAN administration. **Civil Experience:** - Pharmeceutical Regulatory Operations. - FDA Regulation. - Pharma Regulatory Publishing. **Enthusiasms:** - History (US/Europe, and a smattering of Asia) - Shooting. - Weapons and weapons development, especially Naval. _Damn!_ That list went longer than I expected! ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/90 "2003-01-01T15:40:31Z")
Tranquilis - Holy Shit! ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/91 "2003-01-01T15:41:49Z")
By the way, when is nuclear physics ever “practical”? ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/92 "2003-01-01T16:32:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whuckfistle \* > \*\*By the way, when is nuclear physics ever “practical”? \*\* Ask any sailor at the sub base in Bangor, Washington. …or, the UN inspectors in Iraq or North Korea 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/93 "2003-01-01T16:41:24Z")
I’d wager that the mere fact that I _am_ an **Igneous Petrologist** would put me above 99.9% of the general population in knowledge about All Things Igneous, even if I were to rank myself at the bottom amongst other igneous petrologists (which I wouldn’t, but I’m certainly not a top petrologist)! I can name all the people on one hand that know more than me about the general Geology of Big Bend Ranch State Park or the Davis Mountains and maybe even (I flatter myself) Big Bend National Park. In any case, my expertise certainly is greater than 99.9% of the general population’s. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/94 "2003-01-01T18:32:29Z")
But you live in NC now. These things are in Texas. What if everything has changed since you left? ---
**Author:** ![Trancey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Trancey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancey)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/95 "2003-01-01T22:32:34Z")
I want to have an expertise in useless facts, or stupid laws of countries…but that will come in time. For something I know alot about now? Laundry. I do laundry everyday, I can’t stand wearing something more then once. Because of this, I’ve learn alot of tricks about doing your average load of wash. I can wash reds and whites in one load without anything turning pink. I can get black ink out of a table clothes, black hair dye off a blue shirt, all without using bleach. Did you know you’re supposed to bunch each seperate piece of clothing into balls and not lay them wrapped around the middle of the machine when you wash them? My name is ‘Trancey’. I am 18 and I think I’m obsessive compulsive about washing clothes. _shrugs_ heheh ---
**Author:** ![Zweistein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/54ee81/32.png) [@Zweistein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zweistein)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/96 "2003-01-01T23:27:20Z")
Black and White photography. The 99.9% part is that I am an expert in all photographic chemicals involved, as current commercial, esoteric, curious and obsolete substances and mixtures. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/97 "2003-01-02T00:10:56Z")
Cold processed soapmaking–the oils, the saponification points, the qualities each oil imparts to a soap, additives, colorants, etc. I’m not the most knowledgeable soaper out there, but I can still drive my husband right up the wall when we go to the health food store and I start checking out all the possibilities. To a lesser extent, natural skin-care products. And it’s not really an area that I specialized in studying, but I’m very good at working with that group of teenagers who have spent most of their school careers slipping through the cracks. I chalk it up to tenacity and good intentions, for the most part, and an ability to “listen into the silence.” Since I left teaching, I haven’t done much in this area, but I miss it. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/98 "2003-01-02T00:50:48Z")
All things **Trek**. **Gulliver’s Travels** (part of my specialization for my master’s degree). Creative writing, freelance submissions. What do see and do in Vegas and San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![Hickory6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Hickory6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hickory6)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/99 "2003-01-02T01:30:26Z")
Mutual funds. Comes from being a staff reporter on a national mag specifically devoted to Mutual Funds for a few years. I don’t know them like an industry insider, though. More from a distance. Traditional Irish music. Just from working as a fiddler and guitar and mandolin player. Jazz guitar, too, although since I started playing Irish I haven’t played the rest of it. And also infantry operations at the small unit level, thanks to 10 years as a commissioned officer in the reserve components of the U.S. Army–all of it in TO&E infantry or armor battalions. I’ve held every captain or lieutenant billet in them, or directly rated them, except Communications Electronics/Signal officer, S2, or S4. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/100 "2003-01-02T02:57:36Z")
Hydrology & Hydraulics. Think: watersheds, floodplains, dams, culverts. Like a lot of specialists here, I often think that there aren’t more of us H & H folks because so few of us have the twist of mind to be interested in it. (read: oddness). I’m one of the few who does flood studies, determining flood plain limits & floodways. A lot of the other civils think it’s all voodoo. Over the years I’ve learned a right smart about how to deal with FEMA, how to read a flood plain map, what is NOT a good place to build a house, etc. etc. Also a lot about construction engineering. There’s only a handful of engineers in our metro area who do what I do, out of a general population of 200,000 +, so I guess statistically I’m in the 99.9%. Humbly, I must say that the more I learn, the more I see what I’ve _yet_ to learn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007.md?page=6)