A considerate enthusiast would recognize that we are all at different points on the path to being a connoisseur and be kind, even if they didn't know all the "right" answers.
I was interviewed on a golf radio show a few months back, and the host said he was an enthusiast, but a bit afraid to discuss Redans and so forth on the air because he wasn't absolutely sure, especially sitting down with an architect.
If I was in that situation, I would self identify as an architect, and then proceed to answer any question that didn't begin with "Hey, asshole, .……?" 
Jeff,
Thanks for this. I had this in my mind after I posed the question. Really, even if certain viewpoints jive with own own thoughts on GCA, there may be something to learn. But that first question may help understand the right questions to ask thereafter.
Even when talking to a normal retail golfer who might only have a few passing thoughts on GCA, it may be possible to 'take the pulse' of the average opinion at the moment and understand what the mass like/dislike.
Tim,
Even among enthusiasts, I would think you would learn more, if truly open minded, from someone who disagrees with you (and probably the entire GCA.COM group think, than someone who parrots your views, no?
In my real life, my son (a good golfer) hates a particular reverse slope green. Archie forces a layup and 200 yard approach, then makes the front half of the green steep to the front, back half reverse slope to back right. Then, there are (actually were, I saw some had been removed) on the front left and left of green. In essence, he has no shot. Just another example of how others (not participating here) understand that good golfers think its the architects job to provide at least one way to play to each pin.
The current thread here about "Every shot counts" seems to have opened some eyes about how strategy has become much more statistical and mathy than the old days. (Following design, maintenance, construction, etc., it just seems to happen) I know at least my designs will consider the in put from these books, even if we could only count Erik as an architecture enthusiast among the thought leaders in statistical strategy.
We all just keep on learning until we die.