This post has been floating around:

http://nomadishere.com/2007/03/12/a-note-to-employers-8-things-intelligent-people-geeks-and-nerds-need-to-work-happy/

What I'm wondering is why is it that "geeks" seem to think they are special or deserve special treatment? Where is the inherent arrogance coming from? Why is it that so many people in the tech industry seem to believe they are better/work harder and therefor deserve more than anyone else?

I've been in the industry for a long time and I can tell you from experience that a great many of the problems and issues we face on a daily basis are faced by other professions as well.

Let's look at the list: [entries shortened to see full text go to above link]

#1 Let them work when they want

"Geeks work almost every moment they are awake. They are online before they go to the office. They are home working after the office closes. They work weekends. They are even sometimes working in their dreams."

Let's be honest here. The actual percentage of geeks that consistently work all day long is very small. Sure there are some that spend a considerable amount of their awake time working. The term obsessive compulsive comes to mind as do a few others. If you choose to work that much does that mean you are suddenly entitled to not show up at the office until 12pm? No, the reason is that you are someone's blocking point and until you bother to drag your ass out of bed because you were up until 2am writing that awesome code that person has to wait and the person they are giving information to has to wait, etc. Get to work at a reasonable time!

#2. Let them work where they want

"Geeks prefer to have a couch around to nap on if they are tired. Some like no windows, others want to stare out into a city or landscape. At home, geek’s offices are usually more lived in, more comfortable and enjoyable than anywhere else in the world."

So I'm guessing that other professions like to sleep on the floor, don't mind putting up with windows or no windows and would hate to work at home? I know a lot of geeks who can't work at home. They completely lack the self discipline necessary. Working at home is a boon for me. I enjoy it and get a lot done. I could do it all the time, does that mean I think I'm entitled... NO.

#3. Let them control their lighting
"There is nothing more annoying than working in bright crappy fluorescent lighting if you prefer to work in the dark, or vice versa. Geeks usually have sensitive eyes from staring at CRT monitors for too long."

Ouch my eyes, my eyes damn you! Okay really, fluorescent light sucks, but some people take this way too far. I've seen cubes that have cardboard draped over the top and door to create a cave like atmosphere. If that is what you crave, more power to you. If you can't work because the lighting is crappy go get a new job and stop whining.

#4. Let them wear headphones
"Geeks are experts in the arts of “focus.” Focusing takes removing all unnecessary distractions from your environment and creating a state where nothing else is going on but what they are working on."

Let me get this one straight. Geeks are expert at focusing however they can't focus because there is too much noise? The only way they can focus is by using headphones? I've had people come up and stand directly behind me, speak to me, and not heard them because I was "focused" on the problem and I didn't have headphones on. Maybe you suck at focusing and the headphones are your way of distracting yourself?

#5. Do not expect them to wear a suit

"Geeks find arbitrary activities that lack real and meaningful purpose, a waste of time and energy. This includes attire. Most companies today are aware of this and even practice casual dress so as to make everyone more comfortable, but geeks are a special case. “Suits” (the kind of person) usually represent a business man who lacks most things other than a nice smile and great negotiation skills."

The percentage of geeks that are required to wear a suit is probably less than 1. Even so this statement is just plain arrogant. Get over yourself already. Studies have shown (the validity of those studies are of course up to speculation) that you are judged by how you dress. If you dress in a suit you are more likely to be listened to and command respect. You dress in ripped up jeans and tee shirts you are likely to be dismissed. Think about that next time you get dressed.

#6. Do not make them participate in company events (unless you are sure it is geek-friendly)
"Most geeks will not be jumping up and down with joy to attend a company party to celebrate the local football team, unless of course there is beer, and they can hang around and talk to each other about geeky things. Keep this in mind when planning company events. Geeks like to have fun, just not the same kind of fun as your typical non-geek."

Do you seriously believe this crap? I'm a geek so I enjoy sushi, computer games, and talk about the latest cool open source project I'm working on. If you can't talk about those three things leave me alone...

#7. Do not hold a lot of arbitrary meetings that could have otherwise been handled through email or IM
"This one is important. Like I said, geeks need to focus to be happy and able to focus. Nothing is more of an interruption than someone walking into their space unexpectedly and saying “hey do you have a minute?”"

Email and IM are not the format to hold a meeting in. Meetings, as most people acknowledge rarely actually provide value to every single person who attended, and sometimes no value to anyone. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have them. It means they should be small, focused, to the point and when done some actionable decision was made.

If you were so damn good at focusing how come you don't have a minute to answer my question? Oh, I know. I'm interrupting your favorite song right?

#8. Do not make them do anything other than work
"This one isn’t completely accurate all the time. Geeks are team players, but they are also easily insulted by being given a task below their level of expertise or outside of the scope of their position.'

So geeks are team players except when it comes to getting to work on time, the lighting, attending company functions, talking with anyone below their intelligence, dressing appropriately, and working in the same environment as everyone else.

As a geek I'm insulted by this entire list and even more insulted by how many "diggs" it has gotten. Get over yourself people.