[throaway54321]

When I first joined, I was working on a decent-sized project that required interfacing with other teams. My mode of development has always been to ask lots of questions, even if they're "dumb". I like "dumb" questions because it gets everyone on the same page, and it narrows the conversation. It's worked out really well in the past; I really believe in communicating early and often.

During my first week, I started down this path. I made comments in our chat, and was quickly told by my manager to take it offline. I was told that I shouldn't be "opening cans of worms" with other teams. So I had to be more discrete about understanding my new role, and figuring out Where the Bodies Were Buried in more round-a-bout ways.

That's the only direct feedback I've gotten from above; this is dysfunctional right?

[meric]

From your description it does look like some sort of hazing ritual - you aren’t junior in technical competence but your are junior in political and social experience in this company and they are “teaching” you what is socially acceptable in this company. Either you are or want to be a similar kind of person and appreciate their efforts or you aren’t or don’t want to be and plan your exit. Before you think about whether you are technically appropriate for the job you must think whether you are socially appropriate for the company. Your life is way too short to spend a third of it pretending to be someone else, so be at a company where you feel like you’re chilling when you’re talking with colleagues.

[dm319]

Sounds like you've joined somewhere that has already long drawn-out political battle lines. It would probably take years to figure out what the history is behind this. I suspect the difficult time you are having is likely because you are either boy who notices the emperor isn't wearing clothes, or it's because you've landed on one side of a political landscape.

I've been here before, and you also have to be careful of who you get support from as well.

To be fair, most workplaces have history to some degree or another. If you are able to keep your head low and excel at the tasks you've been given without showing others up, you'll do well and might even be able to make a clean escape!

[jackgolding]

Yeah this sucks - opposite to my current role I used to DM people on slack and the tech lead told me to keep it in the appropriate dev channel because all questions are important to everyone and everyone should be able to chime in.

I'd look for an exit plan - good luck!

[staticautomatic]

Yeah it's bad news bears. Save yourself. Leave as soon as possible. You won't regret it.