most peopleHow would you know what most people think ? And where ? <| sep |> My point was that he or she was outright denying something and suggesting an alternative without actually providing proof or support for the alternative . Here , you have provided that support . However , this does not mean that Meitner ' s gender or religion did not factor into the decision . To outright assume that it did not denies that possibility . I am not saying it did or didn ' t . I ' m saying you can ' t assume it didn ' t then criticize others for assuming it did . It ' s hypocritical to attack someone ' s reasoning without supporting your own reasoning with more than just well because women and Jews received the award in the past we know that could not have been a factor . No , you don ' t know that . It might weigh in favor of that conclusion but it doesn ' t prove that gender or religion didn ' t play a role .