> "Okay look dude, we're here to help each other learn and solve problems. If you're going to ridicule someone for asking a clearly-framed question, you're not

> "Okay look dude, we're here to help each other learn and solve problems. If you're going to ridicule someone for asking a clearly-framed question, you're not doing a good job at that. That's a serious problem. How can I help you practice that?" It might be just me, but this comes across as condescending or patronising. I'd be inclined to be more straight forward and just say something like "I was asking <your question> to <valid reason a senior would ask said question>. I don't appreciate you ridiculing me for what should be a perfectly normal thing to ask, so please don't do that again." Obviously don't go that route if they aren't owning the ridicule. If they try to weasel out of it or be passive aggressive then sometimes you just have to pin people to their implications.