According to Webster’s Dictionary, an authority is “a person with much knowledge or experience in some field, whose opinion is hence reliable: an expert.” Unfortunately, many so-called authorities are “self-appointed.” They want to be authorities, but they lack the training, experience and/or ability to merit the position of an authority. However, they like to play the role of professor or guru. They like to be treated by others as if they had earned the respect they demand. Truly accomplished people command respect by their actions. Weak people demand respect in words. The danger of “self-appointed” authorities is that they often give out advice that is harmful to young students. It is for this reason that I am suggesting the following ways to recognize these “phony” mind bending characters. This is a sort of check list to help the young person avoid wasting time, energy and money on unproven methods. Self-appointed […]

March 1983 Issue