It's also easy to understand in terms of a defence. There are too many smart people who think being smart gives them the right to be contemptuous of people who aren't. Sometimes that contempt is veiled, sometimes it's really, really overt, and strange as it may seem, there are very few people who are so stupid that they can't understand when they're being looked down on.
I say what's gander for the sauce is goose for the other. If smart people don't see the need to respect less smart people, then they aren't that smart.
On the other hand, it might be one of those vicious cycles; not a few smart people develop contempt for those less smart as a defense mechanism against being picked on for being smart. I know as a grade school child I didn't think I was better than those who didn't do as well at schoolwork, and I genuinely wanted to help, but when my classmates and even adults decided to make me miserable I lashed out in return. And yet, how many of them were punishing me for some other smart person who'd been condescending and hurtful? Which is of course why I eventually stopped acting like that.
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I say what's gander for the sauce is goose for the other. If smart people don't see the need to respect less smart people, then they aren't that smart.
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