I find treating superiors as equals more impressive when it is accompanied by treating inferiors as equals too. Unfortunately, some audacious people don’t do that bit, which has three unfortunate consequences. (1) It means they treat their “inferiors” badly, which is bad for those people. (2) It gives them a reputation for dickishness. (3) It reveals that their impertinence isn’t a matter of principled not-giving-a-damn-about-status, but has some other, possibly less reputable cause such as selfishness.
I find treating superiors as equals more impressive when it is accompanied by treating inferiors as equals too. Unfortunately, some audacious people don’t do that bit, which has three unfortunate consequences. (1) It means they treat their “inferiors” badly, which is bad for those people. (2) It gives them a reputation for dickishness. (3) It reveals that their impertinence isn’t a matter of principled not-giving-a-damn-about-status, but has some other, possibly less reputable cause such as selfishness.