# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/101 "2003-01-02T07:27:27Z")
digital visual effects. definitely not within the top of the field, but i think it fits within the 99.9% of the populace criterion. also to a lesser extent military history and especially special operations history (although one hits a wall there when one isn’t in the military ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/102 "2003-01-02T19:47:21Z")
Optimality Theory, Northern California projectile points, \*Olivella \* shell beads, and _Haliotis_ ornaments. I’m not the world’s foremost authority on any but definitely good enough to get into the 0.1% club. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/103 "2003-01-03T03:57:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*Photography. Film, not digital. Dad gave me a camera when I was 5 or 6 (late 1960’s), and has become a lifelong hobby. Ran photo studio and custom darkroom for several years (part time, see below), still do side/odd jobs. > > Remodel. Know enough about all the trades needed to get by (and know enough to know when to call in someone better than me.) Specialty in faux finishes. Primary job for close to 20 years. > > Bible and Bible related history. Grew up Christian, still consider myself to be, but have a disdain for most organized religion. Extreme curiosity and a love of reading contributes, too. > > Sci-Fi geek. Says it all, no? > > Basic astronomy and physics. For the layperson. Extreme curiosity again. Always willing to learn, more likely to ask questions rather than answer. > > Friends say I’m pretty good at creative writing. I like short stories and poems. \*\* * * * Wow…I nearly parallel you in areas 3, 4(somewhat) and 6. No wonder we keep winding up in the same threads. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/104 "2003-01-03T05:46:33Z")
Ride a mean unicycle. Bit of a Photoshop wiz. Make good photos, too. And a mildly disturbing talent for off the cuff poetry. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/105 "2003-01-03T15:00:31Z")
U.S. Constitutional law and federal jurisdiction. Dunno if I’m in the top 0.1% of anything involving it. I suppose out of everybody on the planet I am. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/106 "2003-01-03T19:30:24Z")
Male homosexuality from a historical, sociological and anthroplogical aspect. o.O; I don’t know anything about modern, American gayness though. On a similar note - Yaoi. Which is Japanese comics for girls that depict romantic/sexual relationship between males. [http://www.yaoicon.com](http://www.yaoicon.com) ---
**Author:** ![Chanticleer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Chanticleer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanticleer)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/107 "2003-01-03T21:17:20Z")
Infectious disease. Have worked in Inection Control for past 15 years. As a hobby I sequence MIDI music files. ---
**Author:** ![stuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@stuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuff)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/108 "2003-01-03T22:15:59Z")
i’m pretty much a jack of all trades, but professionally i know quite a bit about: non-linear editing photography pro-sumer video image manipulation (photoshop) graphic/web design fun stuff: super puzzle fighter tetris indie music CDRs ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/109 "2003-01-04T02:15:26Z")
I’d say I’m in the top 1% when it comes to internal medicine and music of the late 20th century. Top 0.1%? The music of Phish, and card magic. I used to be up there on ADHD, but I’ve fallen behind the curve in the last few years. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/110 "2023-07-22T14:52:20Z")
[Rezzing since it saves me the trouble of typing out a title and intro for a new topic] [Inspiring post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-internet-so-bad-with-nuance-and-is-there-anything-that-can-be-done/987310/10) by **Exapno\_Mapcase**. He intimated that having 10 such areas would be exceptional. Feel free to use the 99.9% threshold tho that isn’t a hard and fast rule. If you wish, you can put in your own % for each area. Your professional skills would presumably be your starting point. Me: Zoology specifically, biology generally (definitely more of a macro than micro type tho) Mathematics, thru pre-algebra Teaching skills English grammar and writing skills (my sister recently expressed amazement at same, even tho they were just legal emails) Reading comprehension in general Auto racing, both history and how-to, tho I’ve never actually taken the wheel except for one track day in my own car. WW2 history Astronomy tho not at a pro level ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/111 "2023-07-22T15:18:18Z")
Home electrical repairs and troubleshooting, but that’s what I was trained for long ago. Most people who are good handymen won’t touch electrical. Leading people to a common goal. Harder than one might think sometimes. Also, I am gud speler. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/112 "2023-07-22T16:39:43Z")
What about cooking? I thought you had culinary skills. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/113 "2023-07-22T17:47:41Z")
Oh hell, anybody can cook. It’s the gourmet folks who rise to heights that can be considered truly exceptional. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/114 "2023-07-23T00:36:27Z")
Most of you probably already know my answer: mathematics. Easily at the 99.9% level, possibly 99.99%. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/115 "2023-07-23T12:24:33Z")
My areas of expertise include cytopathology, raising figs and growing subtropical/tropical plants in northern climates. Even though I easily know more about those subjects than 99.99% of the population, the other 0.01 or whatever percentage includes plenty of people whose knowledge trumps mine. I’m so humble I can barely stand it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/116 "2023-07-23T13:40:41Z")
99.9% of the population leaves out 8 million people. There are number of things I do as well or better than the 8 million others on earth, or at least did when I was younger. It isn’t easy with popular activities, but there are a lot of more narrow focused activities that might not even have 8 million other participants. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/117 "2023-07-23T13:52:28Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Home electrical repairs and troubleshooting, 1. _I also have this one._ Home electrical repairs and troubleshooting _I’m probably not quite expert in Home Repair, but must be close._ 2. RPG Programming Language. _Basically nearly dead and a big part of why I retired early._ 3. PRMS systems. _This is shelved software, so useless expertise at this point._ 4. 1st Ed D&D if that counts 5. Middle-earth knowledge. (I might be top 1% in the world, though at least @Qadgop_the_Mercotan knows more than I do here on the SDMB.) 6. Fixing Win 95-XP era computers. Again, dated and mostly useless now. 7. Preventive Maintenance on US Navy Switchboards and Load Centers. I was awesome at this and leading the groups that did it. Then there are some super specific minor things that wouldn’t even have 8 million people that know anything about it, but those really feel like cheats. The PRMS bit above probably qualifies as one, but that kept me is good paying jobs for most of my career. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/118 "2023-07-23T14:01:22Z")
GIS/Mapping/Spatial Analysis. I’ve been in GIS for 34 years. When I started the acronym GIS wasn’t even yet used. It was called AM/FM. Automated Mapping/Facilities Mapping. At the first place I worked at I saw AM/FM awards and thought that that was odd combination. Mapping and radio 😁 I really don’t do the cartography much anymore. Well a little online stuff. Mostly I mash together data to get the data we need for applications, and automate that side of things. I now try to leave the UI to others. Current title is GIS Applications Engineer. I think there may be one or two GIS people here on the SDMB, but can’t remember their names. Say hello if you see this. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/119 "2023-07-23T20:17:18Z")
Judging from my book sales, my area expertise is of absolutely no interest or relevance to 'way more than 99.99% of the population. Of Canada. Let alone the world. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007/120 "2023-07-23T20:59:36Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > 99.9% of the population leaves out 8 million people. Oh, dear, when this thread was started it was only 6 million people. It is getting harder and harder… My area of expertise par excellence is my job: interpreting, mostly simultaneous, but I am even better at consecutive. There are not many who can claim to be professionals worldwide, not with my languge combination, and not with Spanish as A language (the language that is interpreted _into_). Say 500 are in my league, 1,000 if I am generous. But being in the 0.1% of the general population in your job does not feel like an exceptional achievement. Last century’s Belgian comics, particularly Franquin’s (Gaston, Marsupilami, Spirou et Fantasio… that kind of stuff), and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (and Fat Freddy’s Cat). Probably typography. It’s obscure enough a subject. Not a professional by a long stretch, but have been dabbling in it for about 30 years, and still have not finished my own font (but getting closer). Perhaps - only perhaps - Goya. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-area-of-expertise/145007.md?page=7)