[hn_throwaway_99]

> It really feels like the employer is trying to screw over the potential employee before they’ve even joined.

I mean, on the flip side, the employee wants to get as much salary as possible. You say this is a "dumb game" that we've developed, but nearly all negotiations work this way, and a lot of it is fundamentally dependent on leverage: how much does the company really want to hire the person, and how much does the person need the job.

I will say, having hired a lot of software engineers in my time, that I never see it as a bad thing if a potential employee gives a very high number. Similarly, I think it's totally reasonable for an employee to ask "what's the salary range for this position" and to expect an honest answer. But I have seen employees "negotiate themselves out of a job" because they've read too many "principles of negotiating" books and somehow act like we're negotiating over the end to the Ukraine War. Basically, if folks are going to be a total pain in the ass before the job has even started, I'm pretty sure I don't want to work with you (and every single time I've "overridden my gut" and thought "well, maybe this person won't be so bad, after all they're great technically", I e come to regret it). As you point out, the employee is obviously free to walk as well - in my opinion, it's probably better for everyone if things reach a "hmm, someone is going to be unhappy with this decision" moment that folks walk away.