> Why would you react to a new-to-you idea put forth by well-respected people with a good reputation, by rushing to announce that you don't understand it and di

> Why would you react to a new-to-you idea put forth by well-respected people with a good reputation, by rushing to announce that you don't understand it and disrespect people who do? I find that the easiest way to get explanations is to be direct about what I don't understand. In this case, I don't understand the bigger picture of the whole concept - I just feel that it's bullshit. If someone is going to explain it to me, I think it's useful for them to know where exactly I'm standing, rather than to tiptoe around with fake politeness. I don't care much about reputation of people - if their reputation is valid, my opinion of them won't matter in the big picture - I'm just a random person on the internet. I care about ideas themselves, no matter who expressed them. > When someone posts a comment about physics or math that you don't understand, do you also think "Otherwise, seeing the overwhelmingly positive reaction to such bullsh-t makes me feel like this whole place is fake." ? If I feel that someone is bullshitting (e.g. posting a "proof" of Riemann hypotheses for hundredth time), I'll express how I feel. It's the way I feel - it's not an attack, just expression of my feeling, and I think there's nothing wrong with it. If you're bothered by how I feel, that's just the way you feel, and it's okay. But I'm allowed to express it as much as you are.