I bet on people intelligence rather than their ignorance. I will eventually have to scale my explanations only if I remain for a too long time on the first page of HN ;-)

Actually this is the very first time I hear a comment about being nicknamed "Uncle Tom". So far in Europe it did not even started a single spark of debate.

If I appear to become a fashionable talent in North America I might consider changing the username to avoid controversy. At that stage I understand it can offend people. Now is a bit prematured in my opinion.

Thanks for raising the issue, I would have not figured that on my own :-)