Self-taught, one’s lexicon; where curiosity meets scepticism.
One with a love of words, of their meanings, their structure/form/morphology, and within their use, should not be punished for such an interest. You would have them labelled 'pretentious' when you fail to comprehend that this is an interpretation, and one that you have formed of your own accord. Search yourself for the reasons as to why you would judge a person with such a predilection.
A love of words, is not a crime, self expression is no more criminal; examine your reactions, and not the reagent, the catalyst, or the source of your emotions resulting. Take responsibility for why you feel the way you do, why you react the way you do. Acknowledge that this is a decision, and one that is so often within a person's power to control.