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by codeonfire 5213 days ago
There has always been a problem in STEM jobs where people try to use social manipulation rather than technical achievement to get ahead. With brogrammer, people are trying to convince employers to exclude certain classes of employees such as women or non-social people. Then it becomes a race to the bottom of who fits the stereotype the best rather than rhe most qualified, and technical people end up taking orders from popped-collar types with no technical skills. This is not a joke, and there is a very real reason people are doing this.
2 comments

I think you've got it backwards. There is definitely a degree of pride associated with being nerdy and non-social to the exclusion of "brogrammers".

Try getting a technical job as with a popped collar. Even if you are technically very proficient, there is stigma and distrust from people like the author of the article

It's hardly irrational to distrust someone clueless enough to go into a job interview with a popped collar. This isn't really limited to the tech world.
Of course there is distrust, and it is unlikely that hiring based on social behavior is going to make a successful company. I'm merely pointing out that some misguided people are trying to change the business environment to their advantage. I didn't say they are or will be successful. If we describe the status quo, it will be the same as it always been, engineering requires strong, real skills for success. Companies that have unskilled management or people who "bro'd" their way into a high level position are going to have a hard time finding success, but we have to acknowledge there are real companies out there that are taking brogramming seriously.
Didn't you just describe 90% of regular ole management? Ineptitude certainly isn't exclusively to this particular label.