Kevin, 

I don't know you but I do know something about the feelings you displayed in your email. I am sorry to hear you writing that way about birders but I suspect you may have some valid gripes against some. I have met some very competitive birders who seemed to thrive on putting others down. 
Personally, I try to bird for the sake of birding and not concern myself with other peoples assessment of my birding skills. There will always be better birders than I and also worse but biridng is many things to many people for me birding is about getting outside and away from the rat race and connecting with nature. 

William Leigh