> if a date thinks I'm stupid because I ask them what a word means, so much so that they show it in their facial expression and/or tone of voice, I think it's p

> if a date thinks I'm stupid because I ask them what a word means, so much so that they show it in their facial expression and/or tone of voice, I think it's pretty unlikely that we're compatible, so I view finding that out sooner rather than later as upside and not downside. This generalises well... ultimately if being pretentious is valued over being genuine then it's probably not a valuable or healthy place for you to be, situation to be in, or person to be around. For the other more common example of the intern/junior who fears looking stupid to their own detriment. Their only defence is that work places exist which _do_ actually prosecute people for asking "stupid" but useful questions - if they happen to be at such a workplace, it's not worth staying anyway.