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It's great to hear that the author got a diagnosis for their condition (I hope that "condition" is not too unsuitable a word). I'm not very familiar with such t
by quietbritishjim 5y ago
It's great to hear that the author got a diagnosis for their condition (I hope that "condition" is not too unsuitable a word). I'm not very familiar with such things, but I can imagine that could be an important first step to understand and mitigate it.
But it seems to me that they're still some way off from understanding their condition. They characterise it as having "extremely high standards" or not being able to tolerate things that are "wrong or incorrect" as well as others. But, from the rest of the post, it sounds like the real issue is something else: where there are genuine engineering trade offs to be made, they get fixated on a single aspect at the expense of any others. When a decision has two or more dimensions to it (e.g. syntax cleanliness vs backwards compatibility, or language flexibility vs simplicity), then someone fixated on a single dimension is always going to be unsatisfied by the decision of someone who tries to make a careful balance.
One result of this is that their language to describe their situation continues to problematic. If you disagree with someone, then it's fair to say "sorry, I disagree, I guess aspect X is more important to me whereas aspect Y seems more important to you". But it's unhelpful to say "sorry, I guess I just have trouble tolerating how wrong you are".
- mgaunard 5y agoMost good programmers have OCPD. I think the more serious problem with that person is the lack of awareness of their own narcissism.
- diamondo25 5y agoIsn't this exactly like that "god complex vs imposter syndrome rollercoaster" meme? First you think you know nothing, then you feel like the best of knowing something, but then another thing happens that you know nothing of, etc. I don't think this should be straight up attributed to narcissism. Just "doing your very, very best to get things perfect" is not a trait of a narcissist. Better yet, they usually say they are, but have 0.0 credibility of doing that, and will try to disprove any hint that would, basically, hurt their ego or image.
- dragonwriter 5y ago> Most good programmers have OCPD. No, they don't. Attention to detail isn't OCPD.
- mgaunard 5y agoThe two are highly correlated.
- pschastain 5y agoCitations?
- mgaunard 5y agoAttention to detail is literally one of the four symptoms of OCD. You're just being deliberately antagonistic. I guess you were triggered?
- dragonwriter 5y ago> Attention to detail is literally one of the four symptoms of OCD. Correction, it is for OCPD, which is what you suggested upthread; OCD and OCPD are completely different disorders.
- dragonwriter 5y agoAll people with OCPD have attention to details, but the reverse isn't true. But most good programmers do not have the other characteristics or OCPD like being “preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost” or “reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way of doing things”.
- Brian_K_White 5y ago"sorry, I guess I just have trouble tolerating how wrong you are" this I read the piece and it turned me from "I know nothing and have no opinion, other than I do not agree with the very premise of C++, and so walking in the door I'm predisposed to agree with anyone saying they're leaving C++" to "I have a fairly strong suspicion that you probably earned the disregard you're complaining about, on both interpersonal and technical grounds."
- oxnrtr 5y agoDo you really think your incredibly arrogant and condescending comment adds anything to the debate? I encourage you to try and consider the author's points instead of simply attacking her character. I'll be there if you need help with that.