[mduerksen]

> Devs are generally bad communicators

That's a myth IMHO, there is no evidence that this is true.

Besides, I don't think the author claims that "users are stupid", but that they often don't take the time and diligence to make their case as clear as possible, because they lack awareness that the open-source devs are doing them a favor.

Apart from that, I do fear that writing this article probably won't help solving the problem.

[stcredzero]

That's a myth IMHO, there is no evidence that this is true.

I have observed a few devs who are not so good at understanding a different point of view while they are also fairly attention getting. I think this is where the idea comes from. Also, it's pretty hard for a non-dev to understand a dev's POV, which adds to the communications problems.

[DuncanIdaho]

All is true. But please, nobody comes from doctors saying they're bad communicators. They say that they are educated. Some people accept that they don't understand and just heed the advice or ignore it altogether or something in between, while others try to learn enough about medicine to understand what the topic is.

But everybody is an expert on software - since their mother told them so. I'm sick of being patronized by people who refuse to pick up the tiniest bits of the craft saying "no, no, no - that's not my job" - while they are clearly working in a field they haven't the slightest clue about.

Software has to be the only field where ignorance is used as a badge of honour: "I don't need to know anything about how it's done, I'm a project manager."

I'm an excellent communicator, I can figure out how to talk to anyone about anything (I'm a hustler by nature), but when people start talking down to me on a topic I dedicated half of my life to. I make them remember.

[stcredzero]

But please, nobody comes from doctors saying they're bad communicators.

Actually, my girlfriend complains about this all the time. (She's African American.)

There have also been a number of recent studies that support this. In many cases, doctors have already decided the diagnosis after only 18 seconds. (So they completely tune out the rest, which is not always optimal.)

But everybody is an expert on software - since their mother told them so.

Everyone's also an expert on their own bodies. Ballplayers have been saying for years, "everyone in the stands is an expert." Programming isn't unique in this regard.

I'm an excellent communicator, I can figure out how to talk to anyone about anything

Possible red flag here. It's the other direction that's the hard part. Also the vital part.

[DuncanIdaho]

The other direction?

You mean that people don't know how to talk to me? I don't have tentacles growing out of my head you know... Could you elaborate a bit?

[stcredzero]

The other direction?

You mean that people don't know how to talk to me?

Excellent illustration of the issue. In answer to the 2nd question: It's possibly an intractable problem!