Another method with similar effects: being a newcomer, and instead of trying to hide it, using this position to ask lots of stupid questions. In a surprisingly big percentage of the cases, it turns out that the question wasn’t that stupid at all, and not even the “established” practicioners of the topic can answer.
A small-scale example: I joined a group of students studying for our Complex Analysis exam next day (they were already studying for a while). As the whole subject was about complex functions, I started with a really stupid question: what are complex functions, anyway? Well, nobody knew for sure, and eventually it was me who explained it for everyone else… (but only after asking further stupid questions, of course.)
I don’t particularly see why this would lead to winning.
It may make you feel more comfortable asking stupid questions.
Another method with similar effects: being a newcomer, and instead of trying to hide it, using this position to ask lots of stupid questions. In a surprisingly big percentage of the cases, it turns out that the question wasn’t that stupid at all, and not even the “established” practicioners of the topic can answer.
A small-scale example: I joined a group of students studying for our Complex Analysis exam next day (they were already studying for a while). As the whole subject was about complex functions, I started with a really stupid question: what are complex functions, anyway? Well, nobody knew for sure, and eventually it was me who explained it for everyone else… (but only after asking further stupid questions, of course.)