I feel like playing the game of go has made me a lot more careful and diplomatic in my approach - to everything really. Earlier in my journey of learning to play, there were a lot of things I had really strong opinions about. I was quite certain that some things were obviously right and others were clearly wrong! However, the stronger I got, the more nuanced my ideas about go became. Now, when looking at a go position, I may have an opinion, but I am also well-aware of how tricky assessing a position can be. If we use AI as a benchmark, even professional go players can grossly misjudge go positions!
This experience has strongly affected how I think about many other things, including software development and technology. It's okay to have a strong opinion about something, even if it's negative, but I think @mortoray's greater point is important: If you are about to express a negative opinion, consider reframing it as a positive opinion about something else; and if you still want to go ahead, then you should be able to back that opinion up with a mature and comprehensive argument.
As for the idea that you are who you are, and if the interviewer doesn't like it, then you probably don't want the job - I suggest caution here. As @mortoray pointed out, when people know you, it's different. Coming across as negative when it's the first impression you create, could prevent you from getting a job you'd otherwise be very happy with.
Ruby on Rails developer - Maker of ✨ things on the Internet. O(🐌^n) kind of guy. Alumni @lewagonparis (batch 145). Builds wooden furniture on his balcony.
I feel like playing the game of go has made me a lot more careful and diplomatic in my approach - to everything really. Earlier in my journey of learning to play, there were a lot of things I had really strong opinions about. I was quite certain that some things were obviously right and others were clearly wrong! However, the stronger I got, the more nuanced my ideas about go became. Now, when looking at a go position, I may have an opinion, but I am also well-aware of how tricky assessing a position can be. If we use AI as a benchmark, even professional go players can grossly misjudge go positions!
This experience has strongly affected how I think about many other things, including software development and technology. It's okay to have a strong opinion about something, even if it's negative, but I think @mortoray's greater point is important: If you are about to express a negative opinion, consider reframing it as a positive opinion about something else; and if you still want to go ahead, then you should be able to back that opinion up with a mature and comprehensive argument.
As for the idea that you are who you are, and if the interviewer doesn't like it, then you probably don't want the job - I suggest caution here. As @mortoray pointed out, when people know you, it's different. Coming across as negative when it's the first impression you create, could prevent you from getting a job you'd otherwise be very happy with.
Wanna learn go now. 😄
A good measure of diplomacy often makes an opinion looks better.