I may be setting my expectations a little high, but Pei seemed to think he was engaging an undergraduate asking about sorting algorithms.

And he thought the undergrad terribly naive for not understanding that all sorting algorithms are actually just bubble sort.

This is why I find that unless the individual is remarkably open - to the point of being peculiar - it is usually pointless to try to communicate across status barriers. Status makes people (have the tendency and social incentives that make them act) stupid when it comes to comprehending others.