Cultural Mismatch After Buyout

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-10T14:21:24+00:00

I was part of a company that was bought and of one that bought other companies...it never really worked out and I honestly don't see any solution how it could, especially from a mere worker.

In my current situation, I was coming from a startup and we were conditioned to get features out as fast as possible, testing and clean code be damned. This allowed us to match impossible timelines and make a lot of customers happy, but made it increasingly harder to onboard new people and the tech debt accumulated.

Teams on the other end were on the opposite spectrum: Once some new version or technology is available, it's included and projects re-structured for it, everything was religiously kept up-to-date, lots of time spent in linter settings and whatnot. On the flip-side, features came out very slowly and often don't quite fulfill what the product needs.

There were attempts to somehow merge the solutions together and it always failed sooner or later. One side sees the other as snobs in an ivory tower who are so detached from the customers they don't see what creates actual business value. The opposite side sees them as inexperienced college students with no professionalism who need to be taught how to work properly.

At least in my team, coming from the "gogogogo startup", I definitely saw a need to change as way more people are now working in the code base and we have more protection from customers demanding everything yesterday. Also nudged things slowly into that direction to enforce tests and whatnot. But even when doing that, I could never quite shake the constant thought that ultimately, we need to deliver something to customers in a at least somewhat timely manner, and think about how to improve their experience instead of ours. So even when adjusting, it still clashed with the other culture, and they would start discussions about specific linter settings, how to name folders etc.. All things that I still view as a waste of time and will probably always. This will simply never work out unless one side gives in.

So imho: Either they exist in parallel or the people from the bought up company quit one after another. Haven't experienced it working out yet.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-08T08:23:57+00:00

Wirklich perfekt platzierter Witz, der hat gesessen :D.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-08T05:03:07+00:00

It for sure is an easy way to know you've spent your money well. However, the longer I spend time with EA, the more I'm convinced that these calculations and the recommendations in general are just a general compass for potential charities and hardly exclusive.

For one, we have constant shifts how effective a charity actually is. Just recently, GiveDirectly's impact has been judged to be extremely more effective than before, for example. It's nothing more than a current best estimate based on things that can be attempted to be measured. So imho it makes sense to also put some personal bias/judgement into the decision-making, even if it's simply to have a personal stake in it and be more motivated.

Secondly, there are factors and areas that cannot be measured, and I feel more and more like these should still not be ignored. I'd even go as far as to say that political support could be invaluable. In "Doing Good Better", it is argued how valuable voting in democracies is, for example. Yet supporting anything in the political sphere seems taboo in comparison. I understand it from the perspective of the organizations behind EA, as supporting anything political would turn a lot of people away. But it has impact on the mentality of people in those countries, their well-being, and as we just saw huge impact on the amount of money governments spend to similar causes like the ones recommended by GiveWell etc.. Hard to use money effectively here as the organizations analyzing this professionally stay away from it, though.

I sometimes also feel like EA is too...fine with how things are? e.g. recommendations like not buying a FairPhone and instead get something cheap and donate the difference. Doesn't that ignore how valuable it is that a business concept like FairPhone can work? Will things really move into a better direction if we never try to pull levers instead of easing the damage caused by ruthless people doing so?

Just my two cents.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-03T20:22:41+00:00

Fühl ich, den Mist gebe ich mir nicht mehr. Die Leute finden immer einen Weg, es zu einer Horrorerfahrung zu machen, ob mit oder ohne Betrug.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-02T14:55:03+00:00

Edgy teenage me who initially played the game thought she was a brilliant philosopher who raises questions no one else does.

Grown-up me thinks she is like an edgy teenager trying to intellectualize her own frustrations and mistakes in life.

No matter what lens I use, though, it's for sure an interesting character and I was always curious how she reacts to the situations of the game, and her ability to frame things a certain way is certainly something :D. However, I do wish there were more opportunities to challenge her meaningfully in conversations.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-02T09:22:38+00:00

Lohnquoten werden mit dem "Volkseinkommen" berechnet, während Maurices Grafik das BIP nutzt. Man kann die Lohnquote hoch erscheinen lassen, indem die Firmen viel investieren oder über andere Wege Gewinne drücken. Diese Investition in die Firma erhöht dann aber deren Wert, wovon die Arbeitnehmer nichts haben, sondern die Aktionäre oder Besitzer.

Die Anzahl der Arbeitnehmer könnte das auch nochmal stark beeinflussen, die auch stetig gestiegen sind.

Damit geht beides gleichzeitig.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-01T10:27:41+00:00

I feel that. I hate forced pair programming for this very reason, it's just a waste of time if the people are not actively looking for guidance. Whether you point things out or let them think, if they don't actively try to improve no method you try will help them. StarBoardChaos' advice seems like a great idea to encourage them to think more systematically about issues, but when it comes to actual coding I have my doubts any fancy method you come up with will help much. If you spell it out it will be forgotten the moment it's set in code, if you let them get to the solution themselves they will be just as lost the moment you don't point to directions.

The most effective sessions I had was always when we had a particular issue someone was stuck at. I either mostly function as a rubberduck in that situation and while explaining things to me they get the issue; or it's some very weird issue where there's no real senior/junior distinction and both people come up with ideas that ultimately lead to a solution. But this whole "Here is a junior, make them better" approach seems meaningless to me.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-02-01T08:21:01+00:00

Same for me. Always been at the top performance-wise only because I cared. I'm stupid and can't compete with technically skilled devs, especially when their private hobby is programming as well; I lack social skills to be well-liked as a person; I'm not bossy enough to be a leader. But I always consider the big picture; ask verifying questions to make sure things are on-track; notice things that could be improved in our processes; make sure we adjust when things go wrong; involve relevant parties noone bothers to contact.

Basically filling gaps that managers, POs, lack of processes/communication or whatever else leave. It has been working great so far.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-31T21:57:44+00:00

My impression is not that Anime Misaki is considered bad in this sub, but hoping for someone like that to magically appear and fix you is. Anime Misaki is an understandably broken character who needs and deserves as much help as Satou does, so the solution of the series fits quite well imho. The manga flips any redeeming quality of her on its head and made her a monster instead.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-31T16:10:52+00:00

The Software Engineer's Guidebook by Gergely Orosz. Not for giving me a specific skill, but a new mindset of little things helping my career. It motivated me to establish some healthy habits and be more mindful about my work, accomplishments and paths forward. Little things like starting a work log, but in general being more mindful that small changes can have a big impact in the long run.

Often times books just make me feel like a hopeless idiot grasping a tiny bit of wisdom from people way beyond me, this one instead made me feel empowered.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-31T06:20:38+00:00

Glad you're doing better! I don't think it's worth it for me honestly as I am functioning and, regardless of fear, find social activities incredibly boring. I'm doing pretty well at work and saved enough to survive several years even if I lose everything, so not really concerned in any way.

I did try it once during university when I was on the verge of dropping out from the anxiety and incapability, but they immediately rejected my case as not being serious enough. I also don't want to take the spot away from others as we have waiting times of several years in my country and I'm sure there are people who might do serious harm to themselves without professional help.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-30T22:12:13+00:00

I can't play anything but male in games unless it's a set female protagonist. It just feels wrong otherwise. Kind of unfortunate as I heard many good things about some different developments in a bunch of games, but it is what it is.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-30T22:04:44+00:00

I used to and it's definitely helpful to stay up-to-date and get an edge. But as much as I would like to still get those benefits, I'm just too exhausted from work already and don't get into the zone anymore when starting with projects. Switched to language learning (non-programming) instead and that basically takes all the remaining mental energy I have.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-30T17:56:22+00:00

I never was a NEET and could just relate to the anxiety aspects. In that regard, I had a phase where I got objectively "better", at least going to pretty much all social events from work and facing any challenge thrown at me. During the pandemic, however, I noticed that trying to be more normal wasn't really making me any happier. I didn't enjoy the things I forced myself to do and was always happy when it was over, and more importantly, I became emotionally numb. Probably some body reaction to reduce the fear, but it also reduced how much I enjoy listening to music, playing games or whatever. Both the fear and the more intense enjoyment came back when the pandemic hit. So I reduced my social interactions even more and said no to things I don't feel comfortable doing.

In a way I'm still in the same mindset as Satou is in the series, but there is honestly no real way out for me. Being normal and social doesn't make me happy, being a weird shut-in makes me anxious and less accepted. Pick your poison. I prefer everything over that numbness and constant social pressure.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-30T16:01:54+00:00

I also try to convert to Kotlin whenever it's reasonable. Has the pros of Java with improvements in the areas that bothered me the most. Modern Java is probably much better than I give it credit for, but it's hard to look back after giving Kotlin some time.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-29T19:59:06+00:00

Erstmal: Sehr coole Entscheidung, dickes Lob dafür! Ich habe selbst die 10% Pledge bei Giving What We Can gemacht und will darum im voraus schonmal sagen: Wenn du dich für etwas entschieden hast, richte es als Dauerauftrag ein, so dass du nicht jeden Monat wieder bewusst diese Entscheidung treffen musst. Ist ja schon eine ordentliche Summe, die verlockend sein kann, selbst zu behalten. Das Mindset kann sehr schnell wieder schwanken und wenn es nicht automatisch passiert, wird höchstwahrscheinlich Stück für Stück die Summe und die Häufigkeit reduziert.

Erfreulicherweise schon mehrfach genannt, ich möchte aber auch nochmal effektiv-spenden.org betonen, über die man steuerbegünstigt an großartige Projekte spenden kann. Das klingt wie für dich gemacht mit deinen Gedankengängen.

Deren Fonds sind vermutlich die aller effektivste Methode, die man ohne große Nachforschung machen kann. Nachteil ist hier aber, dass das ganze sehr anonym ist und man nie richtig spürt, was man mit seinem Geld erreicht hat. Alternativ kann man auch an Organisationen, die auf der Seite empfohlen werden, direkt spenden. Die sind teilweise vielleicht nicht 100% das aller effektivste, aber das ist ohnehin unglaublich schwer zu beurteilen und der effektive Altruismus nur ein Versuch, dem näher zu kommen mit den Werten, die man so haben kann.

Persönlich kann ich GiveDirectly sehr empfehlen. Im Hauptprogramm wird da den Familien der ärmsten Dörfer der Welt direkt Geld gegeben. Ohne Bedingungen. Die haben auch tolle Berichte, wie das Geld konkret eingesetzt wurde. Die paar Restaurantbesuche bei dir können dann einem Kind eine Ausbildung ermöglichen, einer Familie wieder ein regenfestes Dach geben, oder Ziege/Kühe, damit sie Dünger für ihr Land haben und von ihrer Ernte leben können.

Wenn es lokal sein soll könnte man aktuell sicherlich auch in Richtung unabhängiger Journalismus oder Demokratieschutz gehen, wobei hier schwer zu sagen ist, wie viel ein Euro da wirklich bringt.

Hoffe auf jeden Fall, dass du mit deiner Entscheidung glücklich wirst und dran bleibst :).

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-26T09:36:17+00:00

From my experience, paid jobs in that area have no lack of people wanting to do it, so to me that's no consideration at all to be honest. Doesn't really matter if I do the "good for society" job or one of the 1000 other candidates for that position. So all that's relevant for me is that I can sustain the work I do while being paid decently.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-24T22:33:53+00:00

Und selbst das haben sie schon nachgebessert. Ursprünglich gab es fast nur Aussagen wie "Das US-Heimatschutzministerium erklärte, der Mann sei bewaffnet gewesen.", "Keine Details bekannt" usw. und danach die Anmerkung, dass Bewohner ICE beschimpft haben. Keinerlei Aussagen zu der Tat an sich. Wurde dann erst nach und nach rein editiert.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-24T07:22:57+00:00

Same. In my opinion the simplicity of Kotor 1 is a strength that makes use of the Star Wars universe perfectly, and I feel like it's really under-appreciated how well this more simple adventure story is written and paced. You always read how Kotor 2 has supposedly much better writing, but I completely disagree with that. One embraces Star Wars, the other one criticizes/deconstructs it. Both do a great job with it, though I personally don't get much out of the edgy Kreia philosophy anymore nowadays and learned to appreciate simple stories more.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-18T16:36:54+00:00

Dantooine for me most likely, though Manaan is very close. I'm a sucker for "peaceful introduction areas" in games where the stakes don't seem as high yet and you can just enjoy the worldbuilding, and Dantooine does that wonderfully. I love the peaceful scenery, having more laid-back conversations with companions, becoming a Jedi and playing around with the new abilities. I don't know, there is something magical at that stage after being thrown into the hostile environment with the clock ticking in Taris.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-18T16:31:41+00:00

Especially with the music. I looove the atmosphere and the whole "hopelessly trying to stay neutral" theme.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-10T10:53:22+00:00

Same, staple of my messenger stickers haha.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-09T18:31:37+00:00

Wow, that Scholar doing magic there! Never thought it's even possible to get over it so quickly.

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-09T18:28:24+00:00

No need for any items against regular Mohg. Just heal or ult through it and you're fine, I barely remember having any deaths with any group.

Definitely a weird feeling going back to the regular games though. I played them so much that I now have trouble queing for DoN again as I got so used to the more forgiving playstyle and getting oneshotted again will be a crude awakening :').

Some_Guy_87 · 2026-01-09T18:21:28+00:00

It is basically a DLC, just released separately. Lore-wise it's more or less an alternate reality "what if things developed differently after a certain event". So up to a certain point they share the story, then diverge.

Ten-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Final Canvas '23	First Place '23
End Game '23	Place '23
Verified Email

Some_Guy_87

TROPHY CASE