I've noticed a formula many seem to follow in drawing attention to ones self as a public intellectual: 1. Find some topic or idea that's interesting and fairly

I've noticed a formula many seem to follow in drawing attention to ones self as a public intellectual: 1. Find some topic or idea that's interesting and fairly well-accepted but not receiving a lot of attention. 2. Claim ownership over the topic or idea as if the prior literature doesn't exist. Invent new terminology ideally; abandon existing terms to eliminate a trail to prior authors and ideas. 3. Present the idea or topic in a sensationalistic way. 4. When furor inevitably develops about lack of acknowledgement of previous writers and researchers and issues identified by them, frame argument as being about ad hominem critics versus solidity of your own arguments. Sidestep actual criticisms.