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The "No assholes" rule should really be the #1 rule when hiring. I've heard a lot of complaints from friends and family in the tech industry over the years, as

The "No assholes" rule should really be the #1 rule when hiring. I've heard a lot of complaints from friends and family in the tech industry over the years, as I've had my own issues. While details vary, it always comes down to the acting up of one obvious asshole or another. It infects the whole team/company/project. In the long run, a team of average but positively motivated people more often than not beats a team with an asshole in it, even if he/she is a rockstar/guru/ninja/jedi/whatever. And their lives won't be miserable in the process.

jjuel 10y ago
The problem is an "asshole" is subjective. I might find someone to be an asshole that someone else might not think is an asshole.
- GVIrish 10y ago
  In any group of people sometimes there are going to be people who don't get along for whatever reason. That doesn't necessarily make that person an asshole. An asshole is who someone who makes like miserable for most people they interact with. Or they make life miserable for a whole group of people (e.g. someone who is shitty to subordinates, treats women poorly, etc.).
- whatever_dude 10y ago
  At least from my limited sample, more often than not the assholes are considered to be assholes by everyone else. "Well, everyone thinks he/she's an asshole, but he/she does the job, or has been in the company for a long time, or knows someone in the executive team". That's where the problems lie, when everyone the person is an asshole but no one can do anything about it.
ArkyBeagle 10y ago
So there's no interest at all in lighting up the assholes? Pity; its great sport. What, you think you'll be fired?
- stillworks 10y ago
  The biggest ones tend to reek real bad and most of the time all you have is a matchstick to light them up. Most of them big'uns come from the "network above".
  - ArkyBeagle 10y ago
    It's not to be done lightly. But there are times...

jjuel 10y ago

The problem is an "asshole" is subjective. I might find someone to be an asshole that someone else might not think is an asshole.

GVIrish 10y ago
In any group of people sometimes there are going to be people who don't get along for whatever reason. That doesn't necessarily make that person an asshole. An asshole is who someone who makes like miserable for most people they interact with. Or they make life miserable for a whole group of people (e.g. someone who is shitty to subordinates, treats women poorly, etc.).
whatever_dude 10y ago
At least from my limited sample, more often than not the assholes are considered to be assholes by everyone else. "Well, everyone thinks he/she's an asshole, but he/she does the job, or has been in the company for a long time, or knows someone in the executive team". That's where the problems lie, when everyone the person is an asshole but no one can do anything about it.

ArkyBeagle 10y ago

So there's no interest at all in lighting up the assholes? Pity; its great sport. What, you think you'll be fired?

stillworks 10y ago
The biggest ones tend to reek real bad and most of the time all you have is a matchstick to light them up. Most of them big'uns come from the "network above".
- ArkyBeagle 10y ago
  It's not to be done lightly. But there are times...