You keep making assertions, but my original point in posting that reference, is that if your style of argumentation is to make assertions, and then pass the rea

You keep making assertions, but my original point in posting that reference, is that if your style of argumentation is to make assertions, and then pass the reader off to another source to verify your assertions, then all other things being equal, the source with the most academic backing is going to win. Either you directly argue the point, or you argue by authority. If you argue by authority, academia has the most authority.