Keeping Your Company Asshole-Free • Hacker News Board

Re: Keeping Your Company Asshole-Free

#51

Post by aerique » Wed, Oct 10, 2012, 2:43 PM UTC

sokoloff wrote: post #50

aerique wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your questions 1 to 4 look pretty normal and I would ask those as well. The parent poster is mostly talking about people asking questions just to make themselves look better.

It can be a matter of interpretation. Suppose two "highly competent" programmers A1 and A2 and two "moderately competent" programmers B1 and B2 are together. If A1 asks those questions to B1, I suspect that A2 would view them as perfectly normal, appropriate and helpful, while B2 might view them as aggressive or "trying to show A1's superiority".

Perhaps, depending on B2's self-confidence. There's still that category of people that ask questions for other reasons than being interested in the answers to those questions.

Re: Keeping Your Company Asshole-Free

#52

Post by ryanmolden » Wed, Oct 10, 2012, 3:05 PM UTC

e40 wrote: post #36

atirip wrote: post #26

I'm enormously glad that Apple board did absolutely not keep their company asshole-free. Writing this on computer that asshole created. And btw, I do not know a single Genius (with uppacase G) who is not an asshole, so go figure...

And btw, I do not know a single Genius (with uppacase G) who is not an asshole, so go figure... I do. That type of intelligence does not predetermine being an asshole. I think it's sad that people think that.

I think a lot of people have some longing or desire to be an asshole, or rather to get away with being an asshole. I suspect it is some show of their position in the social order (i.e. I am so important I can treat people with contempt and it doesn't matter). I think the organizational harm done by most assholes offsets any benefit from their other contributions, by a large factor.

Re: Keeping Your Company Asshole-Free

#53

Post by orangethirty » Wed, Oct 10, 2012, 3:44 PM UTC

nacker wrote: post #47

orangethirty wrote: post #35

Define asshole, please.

A person counts as an asshole when, and only when, he systematically allows himself to enjoy special advantages in interpersonal relations out of an entrenched sense of entitlement that immunizes him against the complaints of other people. http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2012/10/ascent_of_t...

Thank you. Seems I'm surrounded by assholes then with such a broad definition. My thought was that an asshole (in general sense) was someone who always put himself first. Thats why I did not understand the post as well as I'd like. Again, thanks for taking the time to explain.

Re: Keeping Your Company Asshole-Free

#54

Post by nacker » Wed, Oct 10, 2012, 6:05 PM UTC

orangethirty wrote: post #53

nacker wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A person counts as an asshole when, and only when, he systematically allows himself to enjoy special advantages in interpersonal relations out of an entrenched sense of entitlement that immunizes him against the complaints of other people. http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2012/10/ascent_of_t...

Thank you. Seems I'm surrounded by assholes then with such a broad definition. My thought was that an asshole (in general sense) was someone who always put himself first. Thats why I did not understand the post as well as I'd like. Again, thanks for taking the time to explain.

The Slate link really is worth reading. Assholology is the hot topic these days, and I have frequently found that reflecting on my own asshole quotient is more worthwhile than focusing on the assholes around me, to the point where I begin to consider that assholes aren't ALL bad!

Re: Keeping Your Company Asshole-Free

#55

Post by orangethirty » Wed, Oct 10, 2012, 10:26 PM UTC

nacker wrote: post #54

orangethirty wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you. Seems I'm surrounded by assholes then with such a broad definition. My thought was that an asshole (in general sense) was someone who always put himself first. Thats why I did not understand the post as well as I'd like. Again, thanks for taking the time to explain.

The Slate link really is worth reading. Assholology is the hot topic these days, and I have frequently found that reflecting on my own asshole quotient is more worthwhile than focusing on the assholes around me, to the point where I begin to consider that assholes aren't ALL bad!

Your definition made me stop and think about how big of an asshole I really am. It is tough to somehow relate and try and measure it, because I reason a lot of social interactions and judge them as logical entities. Like you said not all assholes arent that bad, because not all of them realize they are assholes.

Though your term used to define it is wonderful. I would major in asshology if given the chance. But it would require a minor in chraminology. :)