how is showing your mental prowess talking down to "them"?, that is what interviews are for, you probably don't want to work for anyone who can't stand in a room with someone smarter then them, remember everyone is different, you will only feel stupid for a little while or in a state of lacking something, but in some cultures this behavior would be taken as a direct insult, i agree with you there, but hopefully you don't live in those countries, where everything is personal and macho...