The random anti-intellectual comments from the guys in the wheely chairs were extremely annoying and unfunny. This guy is there, showing something truly amazing, and they're all "What's an algorithm? Haha!". And they'll get away with it too.
Rainn Wilson is actually a really smart guy. He was playing the classic stupid guy being wowed by a genius card, it was an actor's way of complimenting him.
Anti-intellectualism aside, they still interrupted an amazing talk without adding any value. An actor's way of dominating the stage even when it's not your turn. A bit rude and unnecessary.
He was paid by the company to interject with quips during the demos, so any rudeness is understood by both parties. An awkward situation for all involved.
He was paid to be rude to the people who were paying him to be rude? That might not make it not rude, but I can't imagine anything that would come closer.
It was rude to be rude to the people paying him to be rude because it appears to the other members of the audience who were not being paid to be rude that being rude and interrupting the talk is acceptable practice.
I'm guessing you weren't at the talk and therefore are making some assumptions about the participants and their behavior based on the 4 minutes of video you just saw.
You're right, I was. During that four minutes, I thought he was being a bit rude and playing an unnecessary role. Better?
Honestly though, if people were enjoying them, I don't think it's any less rude. It says more to me about the anti-intellectualism mentioned earlier. Reminds me of the Diesel campaign surrounding the word "Stupid".
I don't know, I think you can nail this kind of repartee and it's funny and makes things flow - which stops the day from getting boring and stiff. But I hate it when it's not quite right. Kinda like the MC at a gig who tries to make bad jokes and ends up being super awkward.
