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This is not about social skills. The ability to function in a crowd of strangers doesn't matter here. Not being an asshole to paying customers is what matters

This is not about social skills. The ability to function in a crowd of strangers doesn't matter here. Not being an asshole to paying customers is what matters here. That's not a social skill, that's a matter of maturity and respect.

aphyr 15y ago
It is about social skills. What do you think "maturity and respect" means in the context of interacting with other humans? These are cultural norms, and different people conform to culture in different ways. Place "respectful, mature" American employees in a Japanese zaibatsu, and I think you'll discover respect is more a convention than a universal standard. ;-) Pedantry aside, that engineer still comes off as a dick in this context.
- generalk 15y ago
  > What do you think "maturity and respect" means in the > context of interacting with other humans? We're not talking cross-cultural divides here, we're talking about engineers not being allowed to hide behind the excuse that they're "not good with people" to allow them to be jerks.
  - aphyr 15y ago
    One could argue a certain kind of engineering personality tends to comprise its own distinct culture. As an INTJ, a cross-cultural divide is precisely how I look at it. I'm speaking more in general, though. To reiterate, this guy acted as a jerk, and I agree with you.
cruise02 15y ago
In the specific case cited, yes, but the article is talking about the general case of engineers and social ineptitude. That doesn't need to change any more than we need to stop letting everyone else get away with technical ineptitude.
- generalk 15y ago
  No, I think the author's point stands. He isn't saying that engineers should all go to cocktail parties and mingle, he's saying specifically that you should be able to not be an asshole. Personally I'm not great at socializing either, but I make every effort to be polite and courteous when speaking on behalf of the company.

aphyr 15y ago

It is about social skills. What do you think "maturity and respect" means in the context of interacting with other humans? These are cultural norms, and different people conform to culture in different ways. Place "respectful, mature" American employees in a Japanese zaibatsu, and I think you'll discover respect is more a convention than a universal standard. ;-) Pedantry aside, that engineer still comes off as a dick in this context.

generalk 15y ago
> What do you think "maturity and respect" means in the > context of interacting with other humans? We're not talking cross-cultural divides here, we're talking about engineers not being allowed to hide behind the excuse that they're "not good with people" to allow them to be jerks.
- aphyr 15y ago
  One could argue a certain kind of engineering personality tends to comprise its own distinct culture. As an INTJ, a cross-cultural divide is precisely how I look at it. I'm speaking more in general, though. To reiterate, this guy acted as a jerk, and I agree with you.

cruise02 15y ago

In the specific case cited, yes, but the article is talking about the general case of engineers and social ineptitude. That doesn't need to change any more than we need to stop letting everyone else get away with technical ineptitude.

generalk 15y ago
No, I think the author's point stands. He isn't saying that engineers should all go to cocktail parties and mingle, he's saying specifically that you should be able to not be an asshole. Personally I'm not great at socializing either, but I make every effort to be polite and courteous when speaking on behalf of the company.