[tboyd47]

> Maybe social skills come harder to programmers than to other people (I’m not convinced that’s true)

This is, in fact, the answer.

You haven't truly SEEN office politics until you've worked on a team of developers. I'm shocked a reality show hasn't come out yet about software development. It would make Survivor look like Family Matters.

[maxxxxx]

I don't think you have ever seen real politics in a company. Work in marketing or advertising and you will see some real politics. Developers are way too blunt to be slick politicians.

[ris]

I think this is bullshit. I tend to get on pretty damn well with most of my co-developers. The friction comes with managers trying to fit us into weirdly-shaped boxes.

[tboyd47]

What do you mean, "weirdly-shaped boxes?"

I get along with my co-workers too, but social skills are more than just playing nice together.

[BigJono]

Interesting.

This run's counter to a lot of my experiences. I don't tend to see much office politics at all with software developers. Maybe because salary isn't tied as closely to rank and it's so easy to shop around and jump ship if you feel like you're getting fucked.

[tboyd47]

From what I've seen, with us, fear is the motivator for the mistreatment of others, not greed.

It's the same story at every company: developers are under constant pressure from management, we aren't given the tools or help we need at the right time, we get no credit, but all the blame when things go wrong. When people feel threatened, the open and creative part of their brain shuts down and it becomes fight or flight and every man for himself. Devs become extremely rigid and dogmatic, as every bad work experience leaves a scar on us, and they resolve to never EVER make the same mistake again.

"Hell is other people" is like the personal motto of some programmers. You don't agree with me, fine, I'll just refactor your code when you're sleeping. People read random blog posts and then take it as holy writ, undisputable proof, and if you disagree then let me write a long email lecture to educate you about why I'm right and you're wrong. I've seen people get into physical FIGHTS at scrum, resulting in broken bones. I wish I was making this up.

[michaelmcmillan]

Silicon Valley (TV series) does a pretty good job in my opinion.

[UK-Al05]

I find development teams have an extreme lack of politics.

But that's the problem to be successful you have to be good at politics.

[tboyd47]

Maybe that's more accurate. I was using "politics" as just a catch-all term for anti-social behavior in general, but it is more specific than that.

[zzzcpan]

I agree, politics are easier for developers for some reason.