Rational brain · Logic, Epistemics & Argument
False Expertise Projection
Titles, uniforms, jargon and stagecraft substitute for competence; the cues that once tracked expertise are cheap to fake, and people obey the cue.
An everyday example
A 'chief strategy advisor' whose credentials are a title on a slide and a confident manner.
What it can cost you
Deferring to costume; skipping verification because the source looked like an expert.
Warning signs
- I believed the title.
- I have not checked one thing they said.
One thing to do
Verify expertise on track record and specific, checkable claims; ignore titles, dress and fluency.
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