Kind Engineering [video]
I&#x27;ve worked for a lot of unsympathetic people who didn&#x27;t put themselves in my shoes, or who had their own personal issues that caused them to tonelessly say degrading things to me as a young coder. But I was lucky enough - or sympathetic enough - to get through to them <i>as their employee</i> with questions that made them see <i>me</i> as someone they could help and improve. This wasn&#x27;t even their choice; it was mine, to tease those explanations out of them. I sure wish most employers and corporate structures had this sort of kindness in mind, but on an individual level it really comes down to forming a co-sympathetic relationship (as an employee). Now as a boss, I find myself extremely sympathetic to anyone who asks intelligent questions, but very short on the fuse with people who don&#x27;t take the time to look things up for themselves. Is that me becoming more of an asshole with age? Or is it that I put myself through the process and I expect others to as well?