4 ms·

Two different worlds. When I speak to a non-tech folks I try to re-adjust myself in a way so that I don't make them feel intimidated. Engineers tend to ask many

Two different worlds. When I speak to a non-tech folks I try to re-adjust myself in a way so that I don't make them feel intimidated. Engineers tend to ask many questions, try to find illogical sequences in what is being discussed, raise doubts, propose alternatives etc. etc. We're trained to act in that way and I find that this is what is most irritating to non-tech people. Non-tech people don't know nor they _need_ to know how to communicate in that way. That's not how they get their stuff done, they are focused and equiped with totally different skills. Also, my experience tells me that we suffer more than other people in having a good social intelligence.

MathMonkeyMan 4y ago
I'm probably lacking social intelligence, but it sounds to me that you're saying "non-tech folks" are full of shit and don't like to be told so.
- menaerus 4y ago
  Perhaps one could interpret my words like that but that's not my personal stance. I have a lot of friends which are not in the tech. I think that we're simply having different ways of reaching to conclusions. And often it's very challenging for me to understand the angle where they're coming from but I'm pretty sure that's what they think too. But nonetheless I believe there's an actual value in trying not to dismiss the opinions solely on the fact that I haven't found the argument, for example, convincing enough. I think it's really important to keep your mind open. I also find similar patterns in conversations with folks with engineering degrees but who aren't in the R&D positions. Both of these two groups do perfectly well on their positions. That is somewhat interesting and which is why I occasionally start questioning our industry practices. At times they feel a bit unhealthy.
  - threegates 4y ago
    Further to this point... Questions have a cost. In other fields, they are used more judiciously and more is inferred, so conversions don't resemble the tiresome socratic method that often.

MathMonkeyMan 4y ago

I'm probably lacking social intelligence, but it sounds to me that you're saying "non-tech folks" are full of shit and don't like to be told so.

menaerus 4y ago
Perhaps one could interpret my words like that but that's not my personal stance. I have a lot of friends which are not in the tech. I think that we're simply having different ways of reaching to conclusions. And often it's very challenging for me to understand the angle where they're coming from but I'm pretty sure that's what they think too. But nonetheless I believe there's an actual value in trying not to dismiss the opinions solely on the fact that I haven't found the argument, for example, convincing enough. I think it's really important to keep your mind open. I also find similar patterns in conversations with folks with engineering degrees but who aren't in the R&D positions. Both of these two groups do perfectly well on their positions. That is somewhat interesting and which is why I occasionally start questioning our industry practices. At times they feel a bit unhealthy.
- threegates 4y ago
  Further to this point... Questions have a cost. In other fields, they are used more judiciously and more is inferred, so conversions don't resemble the tiresome socratic method that often.