[ParetoOptimal]

> You can make a pretty good guess that if they don't answer you, they either don't want to talk to you (in which case you should leave them alone), or they have some kind of weird power complex and get off on you begging

Choose the simplest explanation of someone not responding to your email:

1. they don't want to talk to you 2. they have a weird power complex and want you to beg 3. they missed the email or forgot to follow up

2 makes way too many assumptions, we can eliminate it. I'm confused you made a point about not guessing someones inbox management, but then guess at their deep psychological state.

1 and 3 are pretty equal if you assume people are organized on average, otherwise 3 has the edge if you believe the average person is disorganized.

The problem with 1 is you trade maybe not bothering someone for lots of opportunity cost for you.

I'd also argue many software engineers default to 1 because of the anxiety of potential conflict and/or imposter syndrome.