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Comment by oldcynic | Hacker News Reader

> feelings are personal and not something i care to share with workplace associates or strangers

"xj9 you don't seem to share the enthusiasm for our exciting journey. We're a family here at SaaS.com and you seem to be treating it like just a job. You're fired. Please clear your desk"

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Yeah, I used to think like xj9 in collage. But I have no idea how it's possible to survive as completely non-social programmer, now that I've seen what work life actually consists of.

You can be social and build professional relationships without sharing your feelings.

Not for long. People feel like they're really getting to know you if you're that caged off.

You can be genuine without being emotional

Most of the successful people I've seen in my career had a demeanor that ranged between "happy and pleasant" and "serious and stoic". Founders and top executives can get away with being passionate (e.g. Steve Jobs) but serious, reserved stoicism seems to be the norm (e.g. Tim Cook).

But not as good for motivating staff.

i'm not sure how "not sharing my emotions" and "being non-social" are connected. i socialize with co-workers, but we are acquaintances for the most part. i reserve sharing my emotions for intimate friends and significant others.

i've spent most of my career contracting. my attitude is: i care exactly as much as i'm contractually obligated to. i don't accept contracts with these kinds of conditions.

i have a permanent position atm and my no-nonsense professional attitude works fine. its not like i'm anti-social, but i prefer to keep things light with people i don't have intimate relationships with.

There is a world of software outside of useless saas/web shit-ware where you don't have to deal with overzealous SV enthusiasm.

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