But then that isn't "programmers should be assertive", it's "workers should be assertive". I don't even think knowledge/creative work is that special, really,

But then that isn't "programmers should be assertive", it's "workers should be assertive". I don't even think knowledge/creative work is that special, really, or that there is even non-creative work. (You should read about carpentry in either Heidegger or Graham Harman's book about Heidegger).