It&#x27;s essentially about power differentials and narcissism, not money.<p>When you call out someone trying to lowball you and they start ranting, they&#x27;re really ranting about a narcissistic injury to their self-image.<p>Someone who does that will be a terrible client, because they&#x27;re operating from a position of contempt for the people they employ. They do not see you as an equal, but as an inferior.<p>If the &quot;inferior&quot; challenges their default entitled one-up world view by expecting to be treated like a competent and well-compensated professional, they&#x27;re absolutely going to have issues with that.