It seems to me that people can be more apt to try to read someone's intent in writing something - beyond what the words convey directly. Re-reading your origin

It seems to me that people can be more apt to try to read someone's intent in writing something - beyond what the words convey directly. Re-reading your original post, I can see why - absent the characteristics GP ascribed you - it would be really upsetting to be accused of it. Your entire text can be read either as a genuine curiosity and attempt to get answered, or condescending humblebrag. And either one has the potential to be accurate. Some subset of people tend to assume that it's the latter when they run into something that can be read like that. I often do too - I think it's that I sometimes find it hard to understand how someone could be writing in public forms (the internet no less) and not be aware of this. And now that I've written it out, Ive become aware how ridiculous a basis that is. You can be aware that it's annoying when someone taps their foot on the floor, without quite being aware that you're doing it too. Someone points it out to you, you realize it, stop, and start again five minutes later. All that said... I could still go either way. Though thinking this through has led me to the conclusion that in the future, I'll just ask. So whichever it is in your case, I appreciate that the discussion prompted by your post gave me a chance to think about this...