That's a great xkcd, but there are 2 upsides to this arrogant approach.
First, arrogance is a nerd-snipe maximizer.
Second, there is a small chance you're absolutely right, and you've just obviated a whole field from first principles. It doesn't happen often, but when it does happen and there is no clout like "emporer's new clothes" clout.
EDIT: The downside, of course, is that you appear arrogant, and people won't like you. This can hurt your reputation because it is apparently anti-social behavior on several levels. I think its fair to call it a little bit of an intellectual punk rock move that is probably better left to the young. It's an interesting emotional anchor to mapping a new field, though.
EDIT: The downside, of course, is that you appear arrogant, and people won't like you. This can hurt your reputation because it is apparently anti-social behavior on several levels. I think its fair to call it a little bit of an intellectual punk rock move that is probably better left to the young. It's an interesting emotional anchor to mapping a new field, though.