Have you noticed when someone starts a sentence with "I'm no expert"

[KurtNYC]

they then go on to make an assertion which they have no qualifications for? There are a dozen versions of this. Most are worse.

Like the ones that start "I hope this doesn't sound sexist but... (insert incredibly sexist statement here).

It is like they can't help but say these stupid things. Their impulse to deny it is only strong enough to alert you that they are about to do it but not strong enough to stop themselves.

[T Roosevelt]

1. I'm no expert...

I like to say "Good, then shut the f*&^ up."

[GOPisEvil]

2. Any statement beginning with, "No offense meant, but...",

is bound to be considered offensive by at least SOME of the population intended not to be offended.

Does that make sense? I hope so. :D

[KurtNYC]

8. yes, classic

[Huckebein the Raven]

13. or "I'm not prejudiced/racist or anything but....." n/t

[miss_kitty]

3. "I'm no expert and I hope this doesn't sound sexist but... "

i think guys probably do this to sound smart

:evilgrin:

[wtmusic]

4. As if acknowledgement lends credence

good pt :thumbsup:

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. "I completely support Kerry,

but..." Freep alert!!!

[LynzM]

6. That bugs me.

It's like my mom starting something with "not that it bothers me, but...". You wouldn't mention that it didn't bother you if it didn't bother you! </rant>

[StopTheMorans]

7. I'm no expert on sentences that start with "I'm no expert",

but yes, I have noticed it, and I think that there are waaaaaaaaaaay more than a dozen versions of this :evilgrin:

[ProfessorGAC]

9. That Doesn't Bother Me

Your other one ("I hope this doesn't sound. . .") i buy.

But, someone having an opinion, feeling free to express it, but setting a caveat that it's not an opinion based in expertise, is ok by me. I don't think i always hear stupid things when someone does that either. It may not be earth-shattering or brilliant, but it's a fair opinion nonetheless.


The Professor

[PATRICK]

10. Larry King

is the icon of this duality. I'm not an expert but a radio personality. Unfortunately the personality is a know it all one with weird predominant theories. Of course, conversely not being an expert he does not have to defend ANY of his opinions.

Trademark of a blowhard. A good interviewer draws out and enables people to form their own opinions. People like Larry move quickly from suffocating opinion making to fawning participation conjoined hip and thigh to the person being interviewed. A richness and balance here for sure except that it is strictly limited to the minds of the talkers with the expectation that the listeners must be awed sheep. reality and you and me as thinking individuals don't exist.

[miss_kitty]

11. actually after a particularly heinous crime in my neighbourhood

a meeting was set up in a hurry. The Community Council President's wife told me, and i got people from other parts of the neighhbourhood, including neighbours on either side of the crime scene and the neighbours above the crime scene.
so we all show up at this hastily called meeting and the board member who called it (not the pres, but it was at their house) was at least 45 minutes late. When it comes time for her to talk she says: "I'm not trying to shame anyone here," (wait for it) "but I haven't seen any of you at other Community Council Meetings. It's too bad it takes something awful to get you people to turn out..."

:grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke:

[zbdent]

12. I'm no proctologist, and this is no baseball bat, but

bend over . . .

[tjdee]

14. "But" means ignore everything I just said, here's the part I really mean.

Oh GOD, did I just quote Doctor PHIL?!

Need...to...stop...watching...television...

[BlueJazz]

15. Gee...People..I don't know. There might be times when a poster..

is just asking a question in a "round-about" way.. Like:

"I'm no expert but it seems like if the National Debt keeps going up that eventually the whole damn system will collapse.... any thoughts? "

Kinda' like that...

Although I do agree that sometimes it's just an excuse to slander something. :)

[baldguy]

16. "I'm no expert, but..."

"...I am President of the United States."