> I think you should refrain from making judgements when you were not part of the particular social interaction.
Why shouldn't I? You described the situation on HN and others will naturally comment on it. If you see that comments are off, then correct the description or clear up the misunderstanding.
> it doesn't need the acceptance of that gesture in a culture to tell you it's offensive.
You obviously do. Showing someone your foot is not offensive in American culture to the extent that giving them the finger is. In India it is. In India you'd get fired for putting your feet on the table towards your boss. In US you would get fired if you flicked off your boss.
It looks like you are just as guilty of being close minded as you claim your professor is.
> As for your unsubstantiated guess that I might have been rude -- I would put the odds very much against it as I was looking for a research assistantship at the time.
Well but then what reason would a professor have to insult you based on that? In other words, you seem to have no plausable reason to behave rudely but neither does he.
> And if you've been in grad school as a foreign student without funding, you know how desperately in need of it you are.
Yes, I have been there. I sympathize with you on that. I ended up doing data entry for a university lab for $7/hour.
Why shouldn't I? You described the situation on HN and others will naturally comment on it. If you see that comments are off, then correct the description or clear up the misunderstanding.
> it doesn't need the acceptance of that gesture in a culture to tell you it's offensive.
You obviously do. Showing someone your foot is not offensive in American culture to the extent that giving them the finger is. In India it is. In India you'd get fired for putting your feet on the table towards your boss. In US you would get fired if you flicked off your boss.
It looks like you are just as guilty of being close minded as you claim your professor is.
> As for your unsubstantiated guess that I might have been rude -- I would put the odds very much against it as I was looking for a research assistantship at the time.
Well but then what reason would a professor have to insult you based on that? In other words, you seem to have no plausable reason to behave rudely but neither does he.
> And if you've been in grad school as a foreign student without funding, you know how desperately in need of it you are.
Yes, I have been there. I sympathize with you on that. I ended up doing data entry for a university lab for $7/hour.