I think the point is that if you come looking for a pat on the head from a person who has actually put in a huge amount of time to gain their experience, you're

I think the point is that if you come looking for a pat on the head from a person who has actually put in a huge amount of time to gain their experience, you're setting yourself up for failure. The article is a lot more about how it sucks that he's in a spot where he has to look like a dick, no matter what he does. I'd never ask, but if I ever found myself leaning on someone's good graces and got told no, I would be thankful. I'd rather know I was out of bounds!