I don’t know how common it is, but when I grew up, being smart was basically an insult. Not being posh, but any sign of smartness. I was already a quiet kid, which made me a target (because quiet are smart? My grades surely disagreed), using “difficult” vocabulary is definitely something you had to avoid; kids better not find out you have “smart” interests like computers or reading or something or you’d be ridiculed.

Maybe people carry their hate with them in adulthood but just don’t show it so much (until it’s time to vote 🙂)