My own experience with advanced degrees is that they can give you a sense of humility. You gain some expert knowledge in one field, yes, but you also get a glimpse of a larger world of knowledge that you did not specialize in. You learn just how much you don’t know.

It seems you had a very different experience with your degree. It gave you the confidence to pull rank to win internet arguments with strangers. If that is the case, then well done.

Of course you don’t need a masters in literature to know the meaning of the word “compel”. Any speaker of the English language knows this. Anyone who’s seen The Exorcist knows this. You pulling out your credentials proves nothing. It’s a non sequitur.

And of course even if the word meant what you claim it meant, it would be irrelevant. You, my friend, are a non sequitur wrapped inside a non sequitur.