This test is based on the Turing Test.

The world is full of experts. In this world where information is king, the IGE is perhaps more kingly than a true learned expert.  Still, I hate those sanctimonious troublemakers who pretend they know it  ALL when all that have is the search engine preview paragraph.

Here’s the test:

Ask a question that’s beyond the ordinary person’s realm of knowledge

“Hey does anyone know what Dostoevsky’s first published novel was?”

The question may be asked face to face, but forums and email are also fine.

If the answer does not look like a copy and paste from the web and is entirely undiscernable from a true expert’s answer then you’ve got an information hero on your hands.  It doesn’t matter whether they googled the answer or brought it up from memory – they passed the test.

Other scenarios:

They leave the coffee break room and return 5 mins later with an opening line of “Hey you know how earlier you were talking about Dostoevsky?.. Well his first novel was “Poor Folk”.  “Is that so?” you ask.  They smile, nod and take a drink of their coffee.  “Is that the one he wrote in the form of a series of letters?”  The smile fades, they shrug noncommitedly and leave the room. (Fail)

Google your question.  See if their reply matches any of the top 10 hits. (Fail)

They mispronounce key terms while trying to sound like an expert (Fail)

They start their email with “Oh yeah, I know all about that” (Fail)