Jon Ellison Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Martin Stower Wrote:
> -------------------------------------------------------

First of all, reinstating the relevant paragraph and link in full:

> > You, unlike some, are displaying the right
> > attitude: judge the arguments on their merits and
> > not on the credentials of the source. Not sure
> > how far I follow this through, as at some point I
> > will rely on credentialed sources for basic
> > principles—but, only if they make sense to me
> > and I’m persuaded that they know what they’re
> > talking about. On this I’m inclined to agree
> > with Bakunin:
> >
> > http://www.ozarkia.net/bill/anarchism/FAQquotes/Bakunin2Authority.html
> >
> > M.
>
> Well in this case you have the best of both
> worlds.
>
> An observation brought to light by someone who is
> acknowledged as an expert. (myself)
> (Due to the fact that I brought forward the
> observation)
>
> The expert observation being underpinned by not
> one, but two relevant degrees. (myself)
> (I have two relevant degrees)
>
> Actually I would have objected to being referred
> to as merely "an independent researcher"
> I worked hard for five years for my professional
> qualifications and I require that they be
> recognised.

So why did you not require that Creighton specify “MA Fine Art, Portsmouth, 2003”?

> You must think all your birthdays have come at
> once.
> What are you worried about? You're going to be in
> safe hands.
> How good can it get?

How did you get through two degrees without basic reading skills?

Me: “I will rely on credentialed sources for basic principles—but, only if they make sense to me and I’m persuaded that they know what they’re talking about.”

Bakunin: “I listen to them freely and with all the respect merited by their intelligence, their character, their knowledge, reserving always my incontestable right of criticism and censure. I do not content myself with consulting a single authority in any special branch; I consult several; I compare their opinions, and choose that which seems to me the soundest. But I recognise no infallible authority, even in special questions; . . .”

I doubt you know what you’re talking about, I do not consider your opinions sound and you are certainly not infallible. On the contrary, I reject your all-too-evident pretensions as an authoritarian con job.

“What are you worried about? You’re going to be in safe hands” is (however jocose) as thorough a miscomprehension as there could be.

A fuller extract from Bakunin, which often appears (as here) as “What is Authority?”:

http://www.panarchy.org/bakunin/authority.1871.html

M.