[rant]
So after have spent the last couple of weeks with my older brothers and then spent time at work with a bunch of computer people, I've decided that people in the fields of technology completely lack social skills. Sure they are nice people, but they just lack common sense when it comes to dealing and negotiating with people.
According to my brother, who moved to Oganizational Behavior after being an engineer, it is a result of science people dealing definitive answers all day. When working with people there are no definitive answers, so most science geeks either create there own definitve answers or simply don't try at all. Yes, this is a problem particularly, when you have to work with these people.
For example, I (and about everyone of my co-workers) got chewed out my a socially-illiterate computer programmer yesterday. Now apparently, in her deluded mind, being told to "calm down" actually meant " go into a raving state of panic." Eventually, she calmed down after being told that she was going to be arrested if she didn't cease immediately. I still think we should have just had her arrested anyways.
Now from speaking with my brothers, apparently this problem gets worse when you put a lot of geek minded people together. At Bell Helicopters, there a lot of engineers. Engineers don't work well together. Each has their own answers as to how work with people. According two of my brothers who have worked for the company at seperate times, these answers include childish back-biting, buck-passing, and general gossiping. I'm amazed the company hasn't imploded, though there are many rumors that is will soon.
So I now have a new found respect for psychologist, sociologist and other people who choose to work with people. Sure, psychology and sociology don't have any answers, which is something they willingly admit. But at least they mostly try and try again, instead of making up their minds early with insufficient evidence.
[/rant]