I think there is wisdom in this, but I also think there is value in some circumstances to making efforts toward behaving in a way that gets respect from others,

I think there is wisdom in this, but I also think there is value in some circumstances to making efforts toward behaving in a way that gets respect from others, because then they take you seriously. This can come down to manner of dress and tone of voice. It likely doesn't matter most of the time, but I feel that making an effort to not appear stupid in order to get the person drawing your blood to take you seriously is not a waste of time. It's true that I often care way too much about looking stupid and this post is really useful for reexamining that mindset and seeing how it's a mistake. Setting my ego aside and doing the best action regardless of how it makes me look would benefit me 99% of the time. BUT, I've had people in charge of some thing I care about dismiss my thoughts or contributions because it appears to them that it's not worth their time to pay attention to me. If I am collaborating on something that I know or care a lot about, I want my questions answered well and I want my contributions taken seriously. Sometimes that means I need to go out of my way to get the respect of this person. Being professional, making efforts to let someone know WHY I am asking a question, and asking revealing questions that benefit others' understanding, are not always a waste of time.