[aerovistae]

You don't really "get told" you're an expert at something-- if you're waiting for someone's certification that you're an expert, then you're probably not an expert.

I don't mean to diminish what I'm sure is your extremely proficient grasp of bash; rather I mean to diminish the way you presented it. If you're an expert, you know it without being told.

[MickerNews]

I think he's just being modest and not claiming that he's expert, just that he's considered to be one. You're reading way too much into that single sentence.

[dijit]

On the contrary; I've been told I'm expert level at things I don't consider myself an expert in. I always chalked it up to the fact that "the more you know, the more you realise you don't know"