Now close to retirement as an engineer, I've met and worked with many people, mostly men. I've been telling the new workers who get hired the only thing that re

Now close to retirement as an engineer, I've met and worked with many people, mostly men. I've been telling the new workers who get hired the only thing that really matters to your co-workers is your reputation. If you pull your work load and are willing to help others, good things will always return to you from your fellow employees. However... <The failure mode of clever is “asshole.”> There will always be some of these clever people! Either they will attempt to prove their superiority or prove how stupid you are. This, of course, ruins their reputation. When I've respectfully tried to clue them in when they complain because they think others don't like them or quit helping them, they almost always are completely amazed that someone could actually think they are lacking in social skills. Oh well.