I think that people outside the field have the wrong understanding of what physicists do. I think you make a good point about models and assertions. However, I

I think that people outside the field have the wrong understanding of what physicists do. I think you make a good point about models and assertions. However, I would like to add an important point: we are data driven. Hard evidence is the most important part of validating and guiding our models. In my anecdotal experience, most of us get frustrated with superfluous time consuming discussions. Often these frustrations are a result of the non-scientifically trained trying to project what they perceive to be a scientific discussion. Source: I’m a theoretical physicist by profession. I work in the field of condensed matter physics, specialising in geometry optimisation & DFT.