Authority and influence are conflated here, especially where you understand authority as expertise (i.e. an authority on a topic). Such an authority should be a

Authority and influence are conflated here, especially where you understand authority as expertise (i.e. an authority on a topic). Such an authority should be able to produce credible evidence in support of their claims, else they are possibly not an authority in this sense. The implication of your question though, is that you do not think Uncle Bob is an authority in this sense, merely an influencer?