malaise

White space being broken was one of my first gripes with HTML, and that was about 25 years ago. It’s amazing to see a whole post about it finally, but also so obvious that I’m surprised to see one.

> If you sit through a whole meeting without saying a word you didn't contribute at all.

I used to be work with a software architect on a sizable team who spoke less than most others. But when he did speak, it was like the old commercial about E.F. Hutton- everyone listened. If one of us were having a personal conversation with him, he spent most of the time listening. Before he did speak, there would be frequently be some silence as he thoughtfully considered what to say and then he would respond with few words, carefully thought out, intelligent, and wise. He worked on the hardest problems we had, and he was one of the few oracles that the directors, seniors, and leads would go to for advice.

He has been a strong role model for the close to twenty years since I last worked with him, though I struggle and fail every day to come anywhere close.

I get that you’re trying to contribute to the conversation, but you do realize that what you’re saying sounds racist?

In addition, this is a diversion from the elephant in the room, which is that right after some dramatic executive action, many people died within a short amount of time due to a crash that had nothing to do with race and everything to do with chaotic governance.

What question’s answer is 42?

That is the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

Wouldn’t #8 be much easier after you have the method and answers to #1-7?

It irks me to no end when developers assume that staying silent or non-committal is a sin. Wise developers are often silent, as they know what they don’t know. And I’d much rather work with someone I like who is willing to say they’re wrong than with someone highly confident that must win arguments.