[ktRolster]

You know, I'm wondering: could part of Dijkstra's reputed arrogance be due to a cultural difference?

Dijkstra got a lot of attention from his essay, "Goto Considered Harmful." Even though he did not come up with that title, he learned from it that a hyperbolic saying can grab attention, and be used for good.

So thereafter, he spent a while when he would say things in the most flame-bait way possible, to gain attention, because it worked.