Should they be? In this case wouldnt it end up being false modesty?
Like, if this person cant say "Look at me, I am UNUSUALLY INTELLIGENT!" then who can?!
Like, if this person cant say "Look at me, I am UNUSUALLY INTELLIGENT!" then who can?!
No one, that's my point. If academia has not taught to the author that his intelligence isn't unusual, the workforce of his new employer certainly will. Listing github stars and twitter followers in the second paragraph as an achievement to me transpires lack of maturity and a need for external validation. On the bright side, being good at self-promotion when entering a mega-corporation will make sure he has a great career in front of him.
I think a fair test to apply is whether or not the thing is a fact - if it is a fact, and you think it is impressive, that might say more about you than the author. I feel like otherwise you are asking people to self censor too strongly for fear of betraying some perverse sense of modesty that does now allow for anyone to have done anything worth noticing at all.