[klenwell]

Had something like this debate with manager at last job. Came to a head in my annual review.

Manager: "As senior developer, you lack sufficient knowledge of our most important application."

Me: "Wait. I am the one who wrote most the documentation that is in our knowledge base for that application. I am the one who set up the knowledge base."

Manager: "That is not knowledge. Knowledge is what is in your head."

Me: blinks incredulously

I departed the company shortly after this exchange.

But I think you're right. It was certainly the manager's idea that if knowledge was visibly scarce and hard to obtain, his position would be treated (and generally was, among his superiors) with the respect he felt it deserved. But I'd have to assert that this secret society dedicated to hoarding knowledge was a self-delusional sect.

That's generally been my experience.

[brazzledazzle]

That's so bizarre. Was he trying to create some kind of official narrative on paper that he had the knowledge and you didn't? Or was he trying to tell you to document less and hide information?

[klenwell]

> Was he trying to create some kind of official narrative on paper that he had the knowledge and you didn't?

Yes, this. We had actually worked together amicably for several years, he as senior, I as mid-level. Then we both got bumped up. As part of my new responsibilities as senior, I tried to surface issues and confront them transparently. I was mindful not to point fingers or show anyone up but rather identify them as shortcomings in our practices or policies.

For cultural reasons, I think he felt threatened by this and assumed it was his responsibility to hide issues and save his own face. It fell apart pretty quickly. It sucked but I've used it as a career lesson.