Well, according to the dictionary, a smart ass is U.S. Slang for a clever, educated or mentally superior person. Sounds pretty lame. This desire should be avoided at all all costs. Insults are fine, however subtlety is required to elevate insult to an art form. Overuse of the perpendicular pronoun is definitely contrary to the spirit of smartarseism.
Any twit can come up with a personal anecdote.
These are often amusing but rarely instructive. A truly smartarse comment requires both generality and wit. A comment that is completely absent of meaning and purpose is not. Those who's eyes gleam with shared humorous insight ARE the smartasses. It isn't about being the biggest ass, it's about being smarter.