What is a Subject Matter Specialist?

I notice some posters have the Subject Matter Specialist under their avatar. How does one get or earn this designation? I'm working on a proposal for ATS and don't want to work at cross-purposes here if it has essentially already been implemented. I DID try searching but didn't come up with the phrase. Thanks.

Subject Matter Experts are folks who work in the field, or have a great knowledge of the field they're experts in. The easiest example I can think of, since I visit that forum all the time is Intelgurl in Aviation. She works in the industry and has access to a lot of great sources, on top of her knowledge of what's going on. Shadowhawk is another with Area 51. He's done years of research into Area 51, and always has an answer for questions about things around Area 51, and things of that nature.

From what I remember, you have to be able to show that you're an expert in the field.

[edit on 6/2/2007 by Zaphod58]

A FSME is just someone who has some limited powers over their assigned forum such as applause and minor warnings, also to act as kind of a librarian, adding and organizing material when they can. I'm FSME of the AP Conservative forum...I was invited after being active in AP and being a conservative.

If you have special knowledge or interest in either an ATS or AP forum that doesn't already have a FSME, I don't think it'd hurt to try to apply for the position via a complaint/suggestion.

[edit on 6/2/2007 by djohnsto77]

Field Subject Matter Experts (FSME) have been around since 2003 now, and here are the two main links to information about them:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

www.abovetopsecret.com...



While FMSE's are still an active category of member, we have also introduced the Conspiracy Master (CM) which holds a similar "expert" status, but with different applicability.

See here for CM details: www.abovetopsecret.com...

Are there any FSMEs for BTS? I may not know Area 51, 9/11 or Mars like some people do, but I really know about dreams.

No FSME's for BTS, as far as I know...although it has been suggested a few times in the past.

That's what's cool about BTS.

No expertise required.

As to the original question FSME are people who should know more than the rest but for the most part don't really seem to. It seems to me that they have for the most part been selected for how much they post and much persistently they insist on 'knowing' the truth.

Stellar

You couldn't be more wrong. Which leads me to wonder why you jumped to this conclusion.

I last offered an FSME role to a member who is a bona-fide expert in his category, with a rather paltry 580 posts.

I am pretty sure i could have said things that were far more unfair or 'wrong' and there is good reason why i did not. Maybe it would be best to take it in the generally light hearted manner it was intended?



That has been my experience on this forum?



So he is obviously very good at defending convention or misdirecting attention? I do not believe that it is some kind of coincidence that i have such open disagreements with so many supposed 'experts' and if their mistakes and misrepresentations where less obvious i could have easily lived with it and ignored them for a wide variety of reasons.

I HAVE complained about moderator bias in the past but on those occasions i got little if any response and that quickly got me thinking why such obvious transgression were allowed to stand. I will use the new 'alert' feature and see if something happens and as you might have noticed i am not creating threads about how i think the ATS staff is in league with the devil or worse.

It's not that nearly that bad and when i on occasion make some remarks, in threads and in context, to the obvious shortcomings it would probably be best to ignore me as completely as when i sent official complaints.

If your not busy at the moment i can direct you to some posts and threads that needs moderation so just let me know...

Oh yes! I would rather not get banned as i kinda like this place...

Stellar



[edit on 3-6-2007 by StellarX]

Your implication that any subject expert we choose is simply well-versed in twisting the truth is rather astounding, and also very degrading to the ATS membership.



All matters of moderator misconduct are looked into, and if you used the Complain/Suggestion form then it is made available for all staff to view.

Just because you did not receive a response does not mean we didn't look into a situation. Such transgressions and outcomes are something senior staff/management will look into and deal with, and we are not obliged to make such decisions public knowledge. (Just as would be expected in a typical public workplace.)

Update: Just as I responded to this, I noticed that our friendly I.T. guru has implemented some new functionality allowing users to bring problem topics/posts to the attention of staff - Post is here.



If you see a problem on the boards, we always invite our membership to let us know using the Complaint form. Our staff can not realistically handle all issues on a board this size, but we certainly attempt to do our very best.



Dislike for the way we run our privately owned message board is not a reason for banning a member, violation of the Terms & Conditions is.

Attempts to curb bannination with such comments are feable anyway if I do say so, we only ban for violations of our quite simple T&C.

Now... This topic is about FSME's. StellarX, if you have any further apprehensions towards to the moderator team, use the Complaint form so we don't derail this topic further.

[edit on 3-6-2007 by SimonGray]

HEY!!!!

I want to be a FMSE Police Forum Person..

(Just lightning things up a bit)

I personally like the FMSE ....

I have gotten some really excellent guidance from them from time to time and find them to be non-invasive and always willing to help..

Semper

Is that actually a word?

I doubt it, my play on extermination.

I thought it was a curse work..

"GREAT BANNINATION!!!!"

Semper