Earlier quoted context omitted.
Using that word may not be pretentious, but -- worse -- it is bad form. An intellectual might object to the word's use in this context simply because it is bad writing. The goal of writing to communicate. Unnecessarily using obscure words clouds communication. In this case, I don't think the using "autodidact" was necessary. It did not add to brevity or cadence or coherence. It was a mistake. The only thing worse tha…
No, using precise words enhances communication. There are different connotations between the words.
Can you look at the actual post I responded to and explain how communication was enhanced in this case?
If there is a different connotation in this case, I'd argue it makes the post more confusing.