Reg asks “Does your employer’s wilful ignorance of software development principles piss you off?” A commenter writes that instead of getting angry he’s become numb.

I know many smart people who have done just that - become numb. They work without joy. It’s just a job. They check off each requirement and meet the letter of each spec. If you step back, look at the big picture, and suggest an alternate approach that would better meet the business need, they’ll agree that it’s better and shrug and say “but it’s not in the spec.”

I’d might be better off. It’s probably a character flaw. I haven’t gone numb. I have passion and a sense of professionalism that’s independent of any company’s performance review.

Someone once told me that every workplace is crazy; the trick is to find a place that matches your kind of crazy.