This happens to me most often during introductions made by family or friends. I used to disagree, but I eventually got tired of hearing the, "How many people do you know that can..." speech.

While i pride myself on being logical, I hardly think I'm a genius. I think I'm just of average intelligence despite what IQ tests or school has "proved" to me. my thoughts remain the same; that no one has ever walked or talked their way into this world. It all stems from exploration and then practice.

It isn't just in programming.

I attribute it to both inarticulate speech and also minimization to avoid negativity in themselves.

People see my skills in programming and my years of experience and say I'm a genius. What they mean is that they are impressed by my logical thinking and the other skills I have developed over the decades. Or they are making an excuse for themselves, "I could do that if I had a magical programmer trait".

People watch/listen to me playing piano, and say I have a musical talent. What they mean is that they are impressed by the countless hours of practice over the three decades since I started taking lessons. Or they are making an excuse for themselves, "I could play like that if I had a magical musician trait".

People look at the art I create, either through paint or through photography, and say I must have an eye for art. What they mean is that they are impressed by result that came from the thousands of hours of work, piles of filled art pads, and critically reviewing over a hundred thousand of my own photos. Or they are making an excuse for themselves, "I could do that if I had a magical artistic trait".

I tend to usually ignore the comments since they are often said in a depreciating way, or if they are said in a positive way I try to treat them as a compliment.

In American culture, sometimes being called a "genius" can actually be a partial insult, depending how it's said. Nerds, or smart people in general, are not appreciated as much in this culture. Good-looking/Hollywood/actors/actresses/singers/musicians/performers are valued more than any other professions. So, being called a genius is almost like being called a socially inapt nerd.

So, it depends on how take it. For me personally, I never try to do programming outside of the programming realm. That is, I never try to show my programming skills unless the situations call for it (work, project).

I used to be called a genius too, but that's when I was in school/college where nobody else around me knew programming.

I just compare it to learning a foreign language and change the topic.

"Wow, you know how to program computer games?"

"I know a computer language and write code in that, similar to how someone might learn Spanish or French as a second language, except the computer language I know is a written language only. Oh look, a kitty!"

Not the best or most accurate analogy, but one almost anyone can understand without going into the technical details that just reinforce their 'yep, he's a genius' thought.

Occasionally the word 'genius' or 'brilliant' is also used not to literally mean you are super-intelligent, but that whatever specific thing you just did was impressive. "You got that virus off my computer? You're a genius!" (used as a compliment, but not being applied to your entire person, just that specific action -> fixing the laptop).

Other times, people are so in over their head with computers, that they are astonished when you do something simple, and use the word 'genius' to mean literally that you are a genius.

You have to know the person and listen to the intonation of their voice to be able to tell how they are using it, and whether you ought say something or leave it be.