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> I've spoken to lots of other developers who get similarly annoyed by Google recruiters despite their attempts to tell Google Recruiting to stop contacting the

> I've spoken to lots of other developers who get similarly annoyed by Google recruiters despite their attempts to tell Google Recruiting to stop contacting them It might have been worth mentioning this in your post. As it stands, the faux-formal structure, slightly melodramatic tone and repeated references to your cushy career situation make it read like a classic humblebrag.

frostmatthew 13y ago
> it read like a classic humblebrag What about this did you feel was humble?
- chris_wot 13y ago
  That's the whole point of a humblebrag.
tptacek 13y ago
He doesn't need to be humble. Google would be extremely lucky to have him. Let's stop wasting time pretending that he's lucky to be contacted by them, or that he needs to be careful about how he presents this. He's at the top of his field. Get over it.
- huckyaus 13y ago
  I'm not questioning his ability or professionalism. I take issue with the fact that the stated intention of his post - to get Google's attention and prevent similar incidents in the future - is at odds with the tone of his writing. That's all.
  - tptacek 13y ago
    Read the thread 'tlrobinson showed you. Like, carefully.
  - cperciva 13y ago
    The intended tone of my writing is "funny enough that someone at Google might notice and do something about this problem". Sorry if that didn't come through.
    - glurgh 13y ago
      It comes through just fine. It's possible your detractors have just had the good fortune of not experiencing the 'pesky recruiter' problem, Google or otherwise. You can take heart in the near certainty that, if they work in the technology field at all, they will.
- ameister14 13y ago
  No-one needs to be humble. Still, humility is an admirable trait, and immodesty is not usually worth rewarding. Being at the top of your field outweighs the negative connotations of being immodest, but that doesn't make humility undesirable.
tlrobinson 13y ago
humblebrag I see you're new here. Let me refer you to this classic HN thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35068 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35068
- chris_wot 13y ago
  I love that pg says that it was the greatest comeback of all time.
- haberman 13y ago
  Wow, please remind me if/when I succeed beyond my wildest dreams never to use my accomplishments as a rhetorical weapon to beat people with. I've always been a fan of Colin from the little that I've been exposed to his work, but that thread instantly made me like him less (though this post tempered the feeling some: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35096 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35096) And yet I'm more of a fan of Richard Sherman (in the NFL) than I was two weeks ago, in spite of his unapologetic bragging. I can't explain the difference.
  - nostrademons 13y ago
    It's weird reading that thread and coming across a comment written by my 6-years-younger self on the very day that I founded my startup and thinking "Man, I had my head screwed on better back then. The 5 years I spent at Google just makes me a blowhard. I hope I have the opportunity to be small again."
cperciva 13y ago
repeated references to your cushy career situation What references are those? I only mentioned Tarsnap once at the very end. Based on everything else I might have been unemployed. classic humblebrag Being repeatedly contacted by Google Recruiting is hardly something to brag about.
- frostmatthew 13y ago
  > Being repeatedly contacted by Google Recruiting is hardly something to brag about. Do you have any idea how many people would love to be contacted by Google Recruiting even once? That's fine if you have no interest in working for them, but please don't pretend Google isn't one of the most desirable companies to work for.
  - nknighthb 13y ago
    > Do you have any idea how many people would love to be contacted by Google Recruiting even once? Tell them to put up a LinkedIn profile and wait a few months. The recruiters aren't making offers, they don't have that authority. They're trying to shove as many people through an interview grinder as possible.

frostmatthew 13y ago

> it read like a classic humblebrag What about this did you feel was humble?

chris_wot 13y ago
That's the whole point of a humblebrag.

tptacek 13y ago

He doesn't need to be humble. Google would be extremely lucky to have him. Let's stop wasting time pretending that he's lucky to be contacted by them, or that he needs to be careful about how he presents this. He's at the top of his field. Get over it.

huckyaus 13y ago
I'm not questioning his ability or professionalism. I take issue with the fact that the stated intention of his post - to get Google's attention and prevent similar incidents in the future - is at odds with the tone of his writing. That's all.
- tptacek 13y ago
  Read the thread 'tlrobinson showed you. Like, carefully.
- cperciva 13y ago
  The intended tone of my writing is "funny enough that someone at Google might notice and do something about this problem". Sorry if that didn't come through.
  - glurgh 13y ago
    It comes through just fine. It's possible your detractors have just had the good fortune of not experiencing the 'pesky recruiter' problem, Google or otherwise. You can take heart in the near certainty that, if they work in the technology field at all, they will.
ameister14 13y ago
No-one needs to be humble. Still, humility is an admirable trait, and immodesty is not usually worth rewarding. Being at the top of your field outweighs the negative connotations of being immodest, but that doesn't make humility undesirable.

tlrobinson 13y ago

humblebrag I see you're new here. Let me refer you to this classic HN thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35068 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35068

chris_wot 13y ago
I love that pg says that it was the greatest comeback of all time.
haberman 13y ago
Wow, please remind me if/when I succeed beyond my wildest dreams never to use my accomplishments as a rhetorical weapon to beat people with. I've always been a fan of Colin from the little that I've been exposed to his work, but that thread instantly made me like him less (though this post tempered the feeling some: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35096 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35096) And yet I'm more of a fan of Richard Sherman (in the NFL) than I was two weeks ago, in spite of his unapologetic bragging. I can't explain the difference.
- nostrademons 13y ago
  It's weird reading that thread and coming across a comment written by my 6-years-younger self on the very day that I founded my startup and thinking "Man, I had my head screwed on better back then. The 5 years I spent at Google just makes me a blowhard. I hope I have the opportunity to be small again."

cperciva 13y ago

repeated references to your cushy career situation What references are those? I only mentioned Tarsnap once at the very end. Based on everything else I might have been unemployed. classic humblebrag Being repeatedly contacted by Google Recruiting is hardly something to brag about.

frostmatthew 13y ago
> Being repeatedly contacted by Google Recruiting is hardly something to brag about. Do you have any idea how many people would love to be contacted by Google Recruiting even once? That's fine if you have no interest in working for them, but please don't pretend Google isn't one of the most desirable companies to work for.
- nknighthb 13y ago
  > Do you have any idea how many people would love to be contacted by Google Recruiting even once? Tell them to put up a LinkedIn profile and wait a few months. The recruiters aren't making offers, they don't have that authority. They're trying to shove as many people through an interview grinder as possible.