> If this atmosphere of harsh personal criticism does yield better results, then it's necessary. I'm reminded of the old adage, 'if you can't stand the heat, ge

> If this atmosphere of harsh personal criticism does yield better results, then it's necessary. I'm reminded of the old adage, 'if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.' Heat is necessary to cook (a kitchen in summer is miserable, particularly without air conditioning); interpersonal heat may be necessary to produce better software. Perhaps currently, the environment is toxic, but it also manages to produce excellent results. Wouldn't anyone agree that now, moving forward, excellent results plus a supportive environment would be a step forward? How can anyone find that a regression?