If you think too much of yourself and are condescending to others, you will succeed in antagonizing those around you.

Decades ago, my brother told me this anecdote:  A fellow Filipino went abroad and had a coversation with a non-Filipino. The non-Filipino asked, "Is it true that in the Philippines people eat with their hands?" The Filipino said, "No, we generally use our mouths."  The non-Filiipino asked, "Is it true you live in trees?" The Filipino said, "Yes, but they have elevators."

A few years back, a Fil-Am pursuing his MA in the US came to DISCS in search of a thesis topic. His area was distance learning.  He was offering his services to teach us how to email, create our own websites, and conduct online classes.  I politely told him that we knew how to do those things, thank you very much. He then went on to say he didn't need an office if he were to work with us.  I less politely retorted that we didn't have one do give him. He ended the conversation by asking if there was some place on campus where he could work out, like a gym. "In the States," he said, "we call it a spa."  I have no recollection of what I said next.