this post was submitted on 16 Dec 2023
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Is a Drill Instructor a dick or is he trying to push you to be better?! It’s more complicated that just “dicks and saints”.
Yes, they 100% are a dick if they're anything like the character in full metal jacket
Yes ok, but I didn’t mention FMJ, you did.
And? That's a popular conception of the role for a reason
If you, or others, choose to interpret my use of the words “drill instructor” as “that guy from FMJ [a fiction film about the US army 60 years ago]”, I can see why confusion arises.
Let’s forget about drill instructors - it was an allegory and if the allegory didn’t work to serve the point I’m actually trying to make, let’s say “personal trainer” instead. Why do personal trainers exist? One of the clear reasons is that they help you exceed what you thought possible.
And all I’m saying is that I’ve been working on dev teams where you end up achieving more than you thought you could because there’s some separation between those who dream up features and those who build them.
People were discussing Jobs being a nightmare to work for, which is honestly very well documented. The question is, is it justified? I say no not really. Being a good leader doesn't require being an asshole. You seem to be saying it IS justified.
The analogy of a drill instructor worked perfectly I thought, since that stereotype exists for a reason. Outside the movie, that phrase is commonly used as shorthand for an uptight mean hardass. One example of a real story supporting that: my grandfather fought in WW2 and had horror stories about his, including getting kicked in the mouth by them.
Now you're backpedaling and comparing Jobs to a personal trainer. Nah, Jobs was an asshole and simping for him is weird.