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Is this a social club? No, but I would prefer not to work with a douche-bag. However, if you're only referring to the strict subset of traits that make you a

by tkahn6 16y ago

Is this a social club? No, but I would prefer not to work with a douche-bag. However, if you're only referring to the strict subset of traits that make you a good programmer (and nothing else), then yes I agree.

frossie 16y ago
A person who doesn't smile, or isn't overly friendly is a douche-bag? I think you have your definitions mixed up. Introverts, reserved people, naturally taciturn people, super-shy people, people from cultures that don't show their teeth at every opportunity - they are perfectly fine people and can be a joy, a joy to work with. People are great to work with when the work just "flows" around them. Their personalities are (mostly) orthogonal with that. It doesn't make them assholes. Come to think of it, the assholes are more likely to smile. YMMV.
- tkahn6 16y ago
  I agree 100% but you seemed to be implying that one's coding skills were the only determining factor in whether or not you are a good employee which is what I was responding to.
- palish 16y ago
  A person who doesn't smile, or isn't overly friendly is a douche-bag? Generally, yes. It's human nature to be judgmental. You can disagree with it all you'd like, but ignoring it will directly impact you in a negative way. It's why I try to go out of my way to smile and ask someone about themselves every time they come by to ask me a question / chat / whatever, even if I don't feel like it. Such positioning may seem fake, but I feel it's "fake" in the same way wearing clothes is "fake". You can disagree with wearing clothes, but running around without pants won't win you much respect.
  - frossie 16y ago
    Yeah sure, it might affect how much people like you. Unfortunately, when you have to sit around a table and decide who has to be laid off, I am sorry to say I have never known likeability to be a consideration. If someone is nice you will feel worse about having to let them go, but you are never going to get rid of your grumpy hero programmer to keep the slow-coding nice guy. I can say this from experience. The OP was about being indispensable; and as I said, the person who is indispensable is the one the business can least afford to lose. There are occasionally other considerations, but they are all done without reference to most of the items on that list, at least from what I have seen.
    - palish 16y ago
      Good point.

by tkahn6 16y ago

frossie 16y ago

A person who doesn't smile, or isn't overly friendly is a douche-bag? I think you have your definitions mixed up. Introverts, reserved people, naturally taciturn people, super-shy people, people from cultures that don't show their teeth at every opportunity - they are perfectly fine people and can be a joy, a joy to work with. People are great to work with when the work just "flows" around them. Their personalities are (mostly) orthogonal with that. It doesn't make them assholes. Come to think of it, the assholes are more likely to smile. YMMV.

tkahn6 16y ago
I agree 100% but you seemed to be implying that one's coding skills were the only determining factor in whether or not you are a good employee which is what I was responding to.
palish 16y ago
A person who doesn't smile, or isn't overly friendly is a douche-bag? Generally, yes. It's human nature to be judgmental. You can disagree with it all you'd like, but ignoring it will directly impact you in a negative way. It's why I try to go out of my way to smile and ask someone about themselves every time they come by to ask me a question / chat / whatever, even if I don't feel like it. Such positioning may seem fake, but I feel it's "fake" in the same way wearing clothes is "fake". You can disagree with wearing clothes, but running around without pants won't win you much respect.
- frossie 16y ago
  Yeah sure, it might affect how much people like you. Unfortunately, when you have to sit around a table and decide who has to be laid off, I am sorry to say I have never known likeability to be a consideration. If someone is nice you will feel worse about having to let them go, but you are never going to get rid of your grumpy hero programmer to keep the slow-coding nice guy. I can say this from experience. The OP was about being indispensable; and as I said, the person who is indispensable is the one the business can least afford to lose. There are occasionally other considerations, but they are all done without reference to most of the items on that list, at least from what I have seen.
  - palish 16y ago
    Good point.