Tony Morris

do you find that co-workers or other prospective mentees respond well, and lend you their trust, when the first things you say to them about their current work is so condescending and dismissive as "completely wrong", "not even elementary", and "would fail undergrad"?

Yes; they become curious as to why and find it challenging. I'm attempting to give you a scope of your misunderstanding. It's not "just a little bit" or "just pedantry." Not everyone is so defensive or dismissive. Consider, perhaps this is hindering your progress in learning.

except I'm quite certain I know way more about the topic than you are giving me credit for. Not nearly as much as you, but a lot more than the zero grade you're giving me.

I also have people who absolutely know FP and are both credible and also respect me and treat me like not a lesser. Those people have taught me a lot. Your flawed assessment of me doesn't hold much weight.

Can you try not to take this personally? You don't understand a thing. What happens next?

I am not a person for whom "you don't understand a thing" is a welcoming opening line in an offer for help. I am glad you have found enough people who appreciate that approach. but that's not universal, or I suspect even the majority.

Right, but you actually don't understand it. Do you see a correlation yet? I don't understand lots of things, and I am happy to yell hundreds of them out my window right now, if only to get you over this hurdle.

I understand more than enough of it to be providing value to my audience, to be accomplishing my goals, and to provide useful paths to learn more. I also have people guiding and helping me. I understand you discount all that.