A lot of it has to do with extroversion vs introversion. The lone programmer working long into the night without seeing another human being is long gone. The wo

A lot of it has to do with extroversion vs introversion. The lone programmer working long into the night without seeing another human being is long gone. The work itself has become more social as collaboration tools get better and better. This necessitates programmers who, themselves, are more socially oriented. I'm not saying introverts can't be social. I am saying they don't excel at it, especially stuck in a 24/7 lifestyle that doesn't allow downtime without sacrificing your social status with the team. Having to choose between staying in your team's good graces and your own mental health is a horrible thing, but it's a choice a lot of us are being forced to make. This does indeed leave the introverts high and dry. Speaking as a leave-me-alone-i'm-working introvert, I've seen this shift firsthand over the past 5 years. I'm convinced that, at this point, working another full time job isn't in my future. Contracting and a "lifestyle business" or two is where I'm headed. While I don't like the uncertainty of those two options, they're considerably less stressful for me than a modern office environment.