[pmichaud]

I find this attitude a bit sad :( I think there's at least one place we agree which is that it's annoying when people do shiny yet perfunctory things as basically a gimmick or trick to convey the impression of depth that just isn't there.

But... I think someone with 3 years of experience deeply engaging with the question of OOP is a great thing to do. You're not wrong that they can't possibly know, but that's not relevant I think. Trying to own the domain and think critically about the sacred cows and reinvent the useful parts is exactly what a good autodidact has to do. And doing it in public view, available for critique and ridicule, I think puts skin in the game and shows character.

There's something to be said for certainty and epistemic humility, but also I think basically everyone who ever invented a truly new thing or learned something nontrivial on their own had to bring enough audacity to the table to get over the line.

Maybe it's a personality difference and you're making the right choice for the type of personality you want your org to have.