Seems like he's just quoting Adams himself. Adams was popular for his self-deprecating humor.

Adams used to tell people the secret to success was being in the top 25% at multiple things - he could draw and he could make corporate jokes, but he was not exceptional in either of those things. It's not really a pot shot, more of a tribute. He's still saying Adams was just below Leonardo da Vinci.

For what it’s worth, I think a lot of people were pretty happy to shit on Scott Adams for the last decade.

I don’t know anything about Scott Alexander, but even well before Adams had cancer, there was a thread on Something Awful making fun of all the stupid weird shit Adams would say.

> Pretty easy to take pot shots at a dead guy who lacks the ability to punch back

if you read the piece he touches on this

His response wouldn't have been anything beyond angry passive aggressive tweets.

Source: have been on the receiving end of a Scott Adams rage