[UIUC_06]

> I've also noticed that, up to a certain point, the smarter a person is, the more it has to be apparent in their work. Every algorithm needs to be perfect, every function needs to be side-effects free, every data structure needs to be the fastest, and every best practice needs to be followed.

Many engineers are somewhere on the Asperger's spectrum, as Temple Grandin tells her Googler audience in [1]. Overthinking is a prime symptom of it. I'm disappointed to see that not even mentioned in this article.

There are some engineering practices that, unfortunately, amplify this rather than tamping it down. Code reviews, in particular, can do that; a reviewer gets points by nitpicking ("you could have done that in one line instead of two!").

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA4tE3_2qmI

[ImaCake]

Yes I think a lot of people who struggle with these things are not aware they could actually be dealing with various psychiatric issues. ADHD is another disorder that can go undiagnosed and often manifests as indecision or procrastination.

Discovering you have a mental disorder puts motivational and organisational think pieces in a very different light.

[testcase_delta]

Way to point out a tiny “error” in an article about trying to overcome the fear of being nitpicked.

[quickthrower2]

> Many engineers are somewhere on the Asperger's spectrum

Would love to see a link to solid data of what this means. Is it 20% vs. 2% kind of thing if you filter for just engineers vs. general population?