I don't think politeness and genius need to have anything to do with one another. An asshole is an asshole no matter how smart they are. A high IQ score does not give you any special social priviledges when it comes to being respectful of other people.

There is a big difference between an eccentric genius who is socially inept and occasionally steps on people's toes, and large grumbling Dutchman who is a very very very smart perl programmer and important member of the community but was many times was just downright rude to people.

As the saying goes; If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Of course, that all said, I do very much agree with what chromatic says, and many times found humor in things Abigail said as well.