This did not go over well

A valid argument is based solely on the credentials of the person making the argument.

Actually, no: Bertrand Russell noted long ago, the validity of argument is based on facts and logic – not based upon who says something. Louks’s argument is an Appeal to Authority and Credentialism – and worse as she seems to step into name calling, implying others lacking a Ph.D. in her field are dumb.

Another academic has this feedback – notes that academics who live off of public resources should not discount the public that feeds them: