Alec Baldwin Gives Parents Advice
When Is Parenting Information Most Valuable?
Maybe we learn more from the mistakes than the successes of others. Does Alec Baldwin, for instance, have valuable advice despite his well-publicized parenting mistakes?
Advice stems from huge mistakes as well as resounding successes – but when is it most valuable? Rumor has it that actor Alec Baldwin is writing a book about parenting despite (or because of) the publicity surrounding his harsh voicemail message to his daughter. Because of the publicity, this book has probably already sold thousands of advance copies and earned him a hefty advance – and it's not even written yet.
What makes an expert an "expert"?
Education
Most professionals have some sort of formal training or education in the field in which they claim advanced knowledge. In many cases, this involves advanced degrees – not simply a ten-month or two-year introductory program. For instance, I have undergraduate degrees in psychology and education, but I'm far from an expert in either discipline! To be classified as professionals, psychologists require PhD's in most provinces and states, just like psychiatrists require medical as well psychology degrees.
What are Baldwin's educational credentials? Perhaps he studied childhood development in university or college, or earned an early childhood education diploma.
Experience
Experts need experience. Newly-graduated PhD's or medical doctors aren't likely experts until they've spent some time in the field, making mistakes and experiencing successes. Personal hands-on experience seems mandatory before the term "expert" is applied. Reading about a crying baby is much different than attempting to shush one when you're exhausted from 3-5 a.m. with a 6 a.m. wake-up call looming.
With this criteria, most parents are experts! But do they need to be a "success" before they're qualified to offer expert or even just good advice? And what's a successful parent, anyway?
The failure versus expert point was highlighted in a recent rerun of Scrubs: an inept, clumsy, and goofy doctor who made countless fatal and sometimes just plain silly but really bad mistakes became the "go-to" guy when mysterious ailments occurred. His past failures made him an expert in unexplainable conditions because he knew how and why mistakes happen – and how to rectify them. He was a bad doctor who became an expert in one area of medicine.
Remember the source
Just because a celebrity is a father, mother, published author, or survivor of breast cancer doesn't mean they're an expert in the subject. Celebrities are awarded immediate trust and credibility simply because they're famous. Their education, credentials, or experience may have absolutely nothing to do with the topic they're writing or speaking about – and yet their name sells books and "expert" advice.
Alec Baldwin
Perhaps Baldwin isn't calling himself an expert in parenting. Maybe he's just writing a book as a parent, from one parent to another. So be it. Whether this means it's a "good" book with valuable advice and insights remains to be seen – the book should be judged on its own merits, regardless of past voicemail messages or superstardom.
