"unapologetically and with confidence"
Arrogant people who say they know everything, and claim that others (retired members) learned from them and feel offended when corrected when they commit basic mistakes shouldn't be taken seriously at all.
Also, all of us should value only those people Who speaks facts / reality of ground (no matter how bad it sounds) but not those who pour "out of box thinking" OR something which people want to hear.
Lastly, one must NEVER take the word of arrogant / egoistic people. The ones who think they are all knowing.
I never engaged with Mastan before a few weeks ago until one day I saw the post by him lecturing China with his super confidence that "---China is really at a loss as what to do---. It had 72 hours after pakistan took out indian might on may 9/10 to take out Taiwan---and it failed to take action. ". I politely explained him basics of geopolitics that on how many levels his post was wrong. I spend my time and explained him basics with honest opinion for his knowledge .. That's what forums are for.. But he went extremely rude / offended just because I dared to correct him. Not a good role model I'd suggest for anyone in the forum. I wonder why he acts like a kid, when someone corrects him ? Why he thinks that forum is a dick measuring contest ? No one is going to get a medal to be "right" or "all knowing". Nobody is "all knowing" except creator.
BTW, Whatever "experts establishment" you referred to was probably some other members you'd be pointing to. I am no expert and I never claim to be one. I just say what honestly I think is based on facts/history and I don't ever try to write what people want to hear.