I think the answer is “learn the field”. That’s what makes you not-a-crank. And that’s not setting a high bar; learning a little goes a long way.
The problem with being a crank is that professionals don’t have time to evaluate the ideas of every crank. There are a lot, and it’s harder to understand them because they don’t use the standard concepts to explain their ideas.
I think the answer is “learn the field”. That’s what makes you not-a-crank. And that’s not setting a high bar; learning a little goes a long way.
The problem with being a crank is that professionals don’t have time to evaluate the ideas of every crank. There are a lot, and it’s harder to understand them because they don’t use the standard concepts to explain their ideas.