This is something that I’d like to bring up as a suggestion. Over the last few months I have seen more and more topics, or general “things” brought up on this forum. I hate to call it an issue but it’s an issue that I have noticed more often, and it occurs primarily in the #real-world-aviation category. I have seen random topics created for things across the board asking for advise or things that require an “experienced persons knowledge”. Without getting too attached to the internet, it is almost frustrating to see other people who do not have the knowledge in the field of question. Many times people are taking a wild swing at an answer and end up getting the home run answer. But that’s not always the case. In most cases, its misleading and incorrect for someone to answer a question or topic if they have no idea what they’re talking about. Don’t get me wrong, as this is not a rant, but rather something that would give some sense of security or solid belief that the answer that they are receiving is something from an experienced person.
I know that there are several real world pilots and this is great. It’s a great thing to be humble but at the same time, if you see something where someone answers a question and they are totally missing the point, let them know that you’re a pilot, and you know for 100% that, what the other person is saying is inaccurate. I’ve had to, on multiple occasions explain to someone something and had to back it up with evidence, that what I was saying was not a lie/fib/whatever you want to call it.
My Proposal:
Similar to what regulars, mods, and staff have next to their IFC name, would be an additional/seperate tag that would say Verified, Pilot, Experienced, etc. something along the lines like that. This would allow those who wish to seek an answer that they are looking for, that extra sense of understanding.
How is one determined to be knowledgable?
Honestly, that’s the tough part that I still am unsure about. Yes, someone can fake that they are someone who they are not. But, it would be pretty evident if one knows what they are talking about vs. something that is copied off the internet.
Leave your thoughts down below, whether you are someone who would be considered for a tag like this, or if you are one of those people that would benefit from something like this who could help you out.
This suggestion is not going to be liked by everybody and is not going to apply for everyone.