[queuebert]

You make a good point, and maybe there is a mathematical solution, like netting out mutually negative citations.

[Mezzie]

Maybe! Probably not that solution since it would penalize academics who are having a long-standing but intellectually productive disagreement.

I think it'd be hard to math out right now since the skill doesn't exist in the departments who'd be doing the work, but in 20 years who knows?