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I think that the composition of “technical” people has changed, over the years. When I was getting my start, it was almost exclusively nerdy white males. That

I think that the composition of “technical” people has changed, over the years. When I was getting my start, it was almost exclusively nerdy white males. That is no longer the case. Tech now looks a lot more like any other community. Misanthropy is often a self-fulfilling prophecy. That’s different from social awkwardness or fear. For myself, I’m “on the spectrum,” so high-stimulus environments are exhausting. That describes most social gatherings; especially amongst neurotypicals. It’s unfair for me to insist that they cater to my proclivities, and it’s also unfair for me to insist that they understand why I am the way I am. One of the things that I learned, early on, is that I am the variable. It’s not something to be self-pitying about, but understanding myself, helps me to interact better with others. I appreciate it when others understand, but I don’t expect it.

watwut 1y ago
> I think that the composition of “technical” people has changed, over the years. I am old enough. It is not about changed composition. It simply never was true that everyone would be a "nerd" or bullied. Or even majority of us. Or that majority of the people in tech would ever be neurotypical. There might be more neuroatypical people then in teaching, but not enough to make it reasonable default assumption. Some people were nerds and some people were bullied. There was overlap between those groups, but not perfect circle and it was far from majority of people in tech. > Misanthropy is often a self-fulfilling prophecy. That’s different from social awkwardness or fear. Yes. And what I had in mind was something kind of third. When I said "mean I meant literally "being mean": being condescending, telling people they are idiots, mocking them or their interests. There is being awkward, which is socially punished. And then there is something else that is euphemized away as "awkward" so that we avoid saying something negative.
- ChrisMarshallNY 1y ago
  Well, I started in 1983, so things have, indeed, changed, since then. In the field I was in (defense electronics, then, financial hosting, etc.), it was definitely "nerdy white males." Probably for the first eight years or so of my career. We also had a lot of ties, back then. Sucked. I did learn to tie a Windsor, though, so I guess it's not a total loss.

watwut 1y ago

> I think that the composition of “technical” people has changed, over the years. I am old enough. It is not about changed composition. It simply never was true that everyone would be a "nerd" or bullied. Or even majority of us. Or that majority of the people in tech would ever be neurotypical. There might be more neuroatypical people then in teaching, but not enough to make it reasonable default assumption. Some people were nerds and some people were bullied. There was overlap between those groups, but not perfect circle and it was far from majority of people in tech. > Misanthropy is often a self-fulfilling prophecy. That’s different from social awkwardness or fear. Yes. And what I had in mind was something kind of third. When I said "mean I meant literally "being mean": being condescending, telling people they are idiots, mocking them or their interests. There is being awkward, which is socially punished. And then there is something else that is euphemized away as "awkward" so that we avoid saying something negative.

ChrisMarshallNY 1y ago
Well, I started in 1983, so things have, indeed, changed, since then. In the field I was in (defense electronics, then, financial hosting, etc.), it was definitely "nerdy white males." Probably for the first eight years or so of my career. We also had a lot of ties, back then. Sucked. I did learn to tie a Windsor, though, so I guess it's not a total loss.