I agree with Steve and Lynne. This VE thing has had an average age demographic approaching senior citizen status for decades. Expertise and age/experience variables will always relate in any profession or trade. You become more expert with more experience. No one wet behind the ears out of graduate school or with little or no VR experience can possibly be a VE. They possess little to be expert about.
Most of us were young when we initiated forensics, but did so after requisite years of VR casework, related degrees and certifications. I will soon be 70 and have not been accepting new cases for some time. I figure that almost a half-century of this stuff is good enough, am tired of working so hard and don't want to die some day at 80 under cross examination. Many of us old experts ought to give more space to younger experts.
There are really not many dumb questions I have seen over the decades here. But there is, and ought to be, professionally really must always be debate and disagreement. It ought to be passionate. It is in other professions. Critique is an unavoidable aspect of this thing we do. I have dished it out and taken it......... a lot. My feeling, and one that is shared by many colleagues I have discussed this with over the years, is that we very sincerely question whether those allegedly scared to post or those who complain about critiques actually ought to be doing this thing at all. Attorneys will be sometimes brutal with experts. Other VEs will sometimes be much worse than the attorneys. If one cannot stand the heat in a forum of colleagues, I naturally logically question whether they will sustain under the fires of the actual work.
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Scott T. Stipe, MA, CRC, CDMS, IPEC, D/ABVE
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
Board Certified Vocational Expert
Scott Stipe & Associates, Inc.
DBA Career Directions Northwest
4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd
#188
Portland, Oregon, 97214
(503)234-4484
(503)234-4126 fax
email:
sstipe@careerdirectionsnw.comwebsite:
www.careerdirectionsnw.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2024 11:54
From: Christopher Skerritt
Subject: Listserv post frequency
I've recommended it before to the Big Board but I think developing a forum that allows a degree on anonymity, like a reddit would be great because people can freely post, and then get feedback, in a variety of matters. The other component of reddit is that the community self regulates itself through upvoting and downvoting, so good content goes up, bad content gets pushed down.
-- Thanks
Christopher Skerritt CRC, CVE, IPEC, ABVE/F, CLCP, MSCC, REAS, CPRW
Cell: 203-605-2814
Fax: 401-216-6135
Original Message:
Sent: 2/1/2024 11:37:00 AM
From: Lynne Tracy
Subject: RE: Listserv post frequency
I think both are true, but I have also heard over the years about members of all ages being concerned about putting themselves out here in the forum.
As a past leader, I can say that IARP has worked very hard at both the big board and section board levels to try and make a safe space on the listserve and has made what are difficult decisions at times to stop those who continue to violate the rules of the listserve, but it is impossible to completely control this.
I have also heard where someone read a post of the listserve of an opposing expert in a case and gave it to an attorney to use at trial. Absolutely abhorrent and unethical, but thankfully I can only think of hearing one instance of this.
With that said, I hope people will begin again to post and help get the forensic listserve back to his former glory of being very active. And I still feel the IARP listserve offers a great resource for us all to draw from the knowledge and resources of this wonderful membership.
It would be good to know where people, especially solo practitioners are going to discuss issues if not here. I am sure the Board would also appreciate confirmation from people if you are still hesitant to post based on past responses you have seen.....
Chris, there was nothing in your post that deserves question or attack. Let's hope this does not happen. IMHO, you are part of the new generation of professionals and leaders who should be front and center.
Best Regards,
Lynne Tracy, M.A., LMFT, CRC, ABVE/D
Vocational Counseling
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Original Message:
Sent: 2/1/2024 11:14:00 AM
From: Christopher Skerritt
Subject: RE: Listserv post frequency
Steve, I would also add that the younger generation is afraid to ask questions due to backlash from older individuals specifically on this forum. I know that the Big Board for IARP has been working on improving this but it is still a recurrent issue that people will often say to me. If someone asks a questions, there shouldn't be 4 instant responses invalidating the question and either getting a. political or b. demeaning, both of which occur. I am even hesitant to write this post in response because I am sure there will be a degree of backlash for me being critical of the behavior on this listserv by older individuals to the younger generation.
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Christopher Skerritt CRC, CVE, IPEC, ABVE/F, CLCP, MSCC
Kincaid Wolstein Vocational & Rehabilitation Services
1 University Plaza ~ Suite 302
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
T: (201) 343-0700 F: (201) 343-0757
M: (203) 605-2814
Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2024 11:08
From: Steve Bast
Subject: Listserv post frequency
My working theory to explain the difference between frequency of posts to the IARP Forensic Listserv these days (2x/day) and the frequency back in, let's say 2005 (5x/day), is that we are witnessing an aging (and aging out) profession that is not replenishing itself.
-Steve Bast, MHS, CVE, CDMS, FVE, CCM, IPEC, ABVE/F, EA
Westwind Consulting, Inc.