| > No one said toxic. They said jerk. Being a jerk is toxic. Being an asshole is toxic. If they're not toxic, why are you calling them these things? > I quite like working with a bunch of opinionated assholes that are willing to argue to the bottom of something, and have no personal investment in me liking them. I like working with opinionated people that are willing to argue to the bottom of something. So much so that I ended up following the most argumentative person from my previous job to my current one. None of that required them to be an asshole. We have a boardgames night every couple of weeks now. > The great thing about jerks is that they don't take it personally. Jerks tend to make it personal. That's one of the main reasons they tend to be jerks! > Not friends, not enemies, just coworkers doing your job I'm entirely fine with professional relationships. Professional doesn't imply jerk. > willing to step on each others toes to get things done the right way. Sure. But a professional can do this without finding their cleats and stomping as hard as they can. > I've worked at places where everyone is nice. It's hell. "Nice" people are bad: morally, ethically, and for the bottom line. Your inconsistent air quotes betray the problem here, I think. People who are bad morally and ethically are not nice people. They are jerks. They are assholes. That some of them are grinfucking everyone to appear nice doesn't make them nice. And, conversely, the fact that some people aren't grinfucking you doesn't make them jerks. That they're willing to debate something honestly with you doesn't make them an asshole. That they're trying to do things right - and save your team from future stress, crunch, or whatever other consequences would come from doing things wrong - sounds like they're trying to do everyone a favor. If anything, they sound nice. ------- EDIT: Ultimately, I wonder how much of this thread is you saying... Rock star "jerks" And me hearing... "Rock star" jerks |
Your edit is correct.