Take on Me

Gene Wilder once shared in an interview how Mel Brooks put him to the test by forcing him to defend a scene in Young Frankenstein—after a heated argument, Brooks gave in easily:

he just needed to see how strongly Wilder believed in it to understand if it was truly good.

Arguments are a great mechanism to examine problems and solutions from different perspectives. As counterintuitive as it may sound, I prefer to surround myself with people who challenge me, who force me to reframe my arguments—sometimes I discover I’m wrong, sometimes I confirm I’m right, and quite often I find a fascinating middle ground.

And there are two things that drive me nuts.

One is when everything I say or do is automatically accepted. What good does it do me if someone approves a +100 lines of code merge request instantly? Sure, it's convenient—but it makes me drop my guard and lets potential mistakes slip through. So I welcome constructive feedback, even if it means extra work.

On the other hand, I hate when someone dismisses an idea or proposal I've put forward with no explanation—“It can't be done, period” or just a flat “no” is the closest thing to a humiliating slap. If I’m wrong, give me the chance to understand and learn from it. If I’ve taken the time and effort to think and shape an idea, show me the courtesy of replying with equal care when rejecting it.

What lingers most isn’t frustration—it's the sting of a lost chance to grow.

exit(0);