It is very easy to deceive yourself. Feedback from respected peers can
be valuable as a checksum. If intelligent, like-minded people disagree
with one of your assessments, it is a clue to evaluate that assessment
very closely. It may be wrong, or it may be a radical idea that no one
else can grasp yet. Either way, it is a signal to investiage further.
Self-praise can just be a feedback loop with no added information.
Praise from others can be additional information.
-- Harvey Newstrom (harv@gate.net)