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> People on hacker news are extremely naive at career management. This is all the worst advice I have ever seen in my life.

My friend, the same should be said about your comments.

> Some of the happiest moments in my career came from when I was the only one doing the work. Those moments often ended when peers joined, took over parts of the work then started competing with me.

You are likely an introvert, which in and of itself is not wrong. What is wrong is assuming everyone wants to be an introvert like you.

Humans are highly social animals. When a person gets laid off, they experience the same hormonal and emotional response as losing a loved one or losing a limb. This is bc being laid off form your company is the equivalent of being banished from your tribe, and that means certain death from prehistoric times. Obviously, almost no one dies form being laid off, but that biological programming is still in the human psyche. Point being - the relationship with your tribe (the team you work with) is important.

> I have learned that peers are mostly competition.

You need to change your mindset, my friend. Have you not had the experience of a coworker helping you out when you really needed it? Have you never relied on a community or a tribe?

> People on hacker news are extremely naive at career management. This is all the worst advice I have ever seen in my life.

Agreed. It's obvious that the boss doesn't want to work and is just dragging OP along. The OP already said they One of the ways of minimizing harm in this scenario is by keeping your mouth shut and doing your job well enough so you don't get fired. Don't be emotionally invested in you work. Just put in your hours and get out. If you want to learn something, learn it in your free time. Going above your boss for an issue like this is very risky. Basically a 'he said she said' and if your boss has more social capital than you then your workplace becomes even worse. Does anybody actually think that what the boss is doing is a fireable offense? Because it's not. HR will most likely give them training or do nothing.

>I have learned that peers are mostly competition.

Don't agree on this. Everything else is pretty solid though. If you are trying to climb the social/corporate ladder then I can understand how you might view them as such but as an individual contributor its really a non issue.

Yup. This is many data points of plainly toxic behavior by the mgr., and he's getting away with it.

Unless you actually know with solid evidence (multiple data points, all pointing in the same direction) or direct reliable communication (i.e., you really know the person, not just polite conversation with 'sure we care' platitudes), you must assume that do NOT have allies in higher management.

I'd usually try to make things work from where you're standing, but actively toxic environments are the clear exception. This qualifies, no question.

The only sane move here is to align your mallards as well as possible, find a new job and bolt. ASAP. Bonus points for the three of you doing it together.