[juancb]

It's fascinating seeing what hacker news thinks is smug. There are plenty of actually smug comments that go without being called out but for some reason this guy does.

The PhD flex in jest by the blog post's author is a bit awkward but I don't know that I would characterize it as smug.

Any insight into why the author is perceived as smug would be appreciated.

[huahaiy]

Let me offer my arguably biased insight: racism.

I am obviously a Chinese.

In the eyes of racists, Chinese Americans are supposed to be timid and does not make any noises, but I do make noises, so I am perceived as a smug today because I said I am a Ph.D, something else next time I said something else.

It's not complicated.

[throwaway744678]

Wow, I was with you until this. I, for one, never even suspected your origin or nationality reading the blog post.

OK, re-reading it, there are a few hints (a Chinese proverb, your nickname, etc.). But nothing "obvious".

Probably not the explanation we are looking for here.

[huahaiy]

Not my nickname, my name.

It's good for you that you are not a racist (it's sad that such a normal thing has to be a compliment, but it is a compliment. Good for you.), but racists do look for these cues and make their judgement based on these.

It's an unfortunate current state of affairs that we have to live with. Ignoring it does not make it going away though. If you don't like it, you got to call it out whenever you see it, which I hope you do, instead of being taken back by it, as you seems to be.

[huahaiy]

BTW, you were with me? Where?

Why do you have to use a throwaway account to say this, I am curious.

[taeric]

Agreed. The wink right after it, I would have thought, dulled any smugness.

I could see calling it audacious. But, our industry advances on audacity.