What defines someone as an expert in their field? This question has become more relevant as employment goes ever more cyber. With the downturn in the economy, and jobs so scarce a corporate CEO can't find a management job at a Subway franchise, many people who have extensive knowledge in some area are hitting the information highway and selling their wares to the highest bidder.

There are some rumblings of discontent amongst many of the "old-timers", the tried-and-true Internet entrepreneurs who have worked their way into dominating some little corner of the cyber market. It seems many people who may really have no idea about what they are hawking or promoting are promoting themselves as experts in their niche. So what constitutes an expert? It would be fair to say that the designation of expert derives from a relative perspective.

Would it be more fair to say some people are authorities on their particular interest? Is it really just a matter of semantics? It would be very interesting to see what other people, especially writers, think about greenhorns who tout themselves as experts, only to be denounced by their own inexperience and lack of knowledge.

Would you describe yourself as knowledgeable, an authority, or an expert?