This company hired a young guy. Extremely likable dude. (100% female, if that matters) HR loves him, not likes, loves him. Undenyably charming chap. He's hired in a technical position despite having no real education in IT or Computer Science, nor any previous experience.
Turns out he was involved in a fairly recent murder case, did pre-arrest and out on bail. Never mentioned any of it on his CV/application. Things only suface when his trial and subsequent post conviction jailtime comes up.
So, he hired a few other guys to break in and rob an elderly person, who had under his charms confided in him she had a safe full of shinies. Not just hired, he drove them to the site to commit the robbery. They end up killing the eldery woman during the breakin/robbery. The safe turned out to be a fancifull story the granny told the guy.
Murder wasn't solved, but his hired hands start balckmailing him, threathning to rat him out (he was a waiter in a place the elderly woman fequented, where he charmed her). As the blackmail progresses, he sees no way out and walks to the police to cut a deal.
Trial happens, he gets convicted with a light sentence because of ''çooperation'', and after not too long here he is back at the company. HR sends out feelers to the employees (it's a small company of around 50 employees), but it is clear they're still 100% charmed and the whole thing is just to see who would quit once they hired him back so they can prepare.
Now for the kicker: While he was at the company before the trial, and before the company had any idea of his past, he had pitched a SaaS market platform scheme for 'services to the elderly', involving a full database of sensitive info on elderly persons living alone at home.
After his (very) short jail sentence, he is hired back by the company on the same scheme.
Now I've always been an open minded person. I think people can change (infrequently mind you, but possible). But there seem to be too many notes here to not call it a symphony. I have worked with charming psychopaths in the past as has anyone who has been in this business for some time, and you do get better at spotting certain things.
I think the parallels between your story and Rick's story are few; the only one I see is that they both spent some time in prison.
Rick was a stupid 17-year old kid who did a stupid thing, and ended up being hired as a software dev two decades later in his late 30s after growing out of his stupidness as many stupid kids do.
Your guy committed a calculated crime very recently as an adult, and generally seems like a conman and a bit of a twat from your description.
This is one of those things where the specifics just make a world of difference. "Spent time in prison" just isn't detailed enough to make any sort of judgement one way or the other.
> I have worked with charming psychopaths in the past as has anyone who has been in this business for some time, and you do get better at spotting certain things.
how many charming psychopaths have you worked with ? And what have you spotted? I seriously laughed out loud when I read that.
what is the point in your comment? To try and discredit me? what for? to harm underdog devs?
you cant expect me to take that analogy serious...you compare someone who actively seeks to cause harm with someone who made a terrible choice as a teenager, hasn't been in trouble in over 20 years, and spends his free time helping people for free?
Theres no way you can be serious. you know what I think....I think youre full of shit. I think you made that story up and I think you have some personal issue with me or underdog devs. Probably why youre using a burner.
@RickWolter This has nothing to do with your story. I do not think I said anything to state or even imply imply that. It was not an 'analogy', not an attempt to 'discredit' neither you nor the organization. I have/had respect for both you and underdog devs, the work you have put in and the goals of the org. I do admit that the way you responded has not increased that respect to put it mildly. It certainly was not ''charming''. But hey, we all have our bad days I guess.
As to 'What is the point in your comment?'
I posted the experiences because it was/is a truly troubling situation for many at the company. Since this topic came up in general, thought I'd ask for advice from what I assumed people with more experience in these matters. Apparently, that is assumed bad faith. Isn't it sad that we have come to this where we can no longer can have questions or discussions? 'I think youre full of shit. I think you made that story up and I think you have some personal issue with me or underdog devs'? Seriously? I had never heard of you or underdog devs before this post.
I use a 'burner' because if I used my real account it would be very easy to find out the company and people directly involved, and that is not what I want.
And yes, you will find psychopaths in business. I don't think it is possible to have a full carreer without running into a few. And no matter how preparared you are, the best ones will fool you, sometimes even for considerable time. My advice there would be, if you see them decloack on others, do not assume they will not on you.
I feel realy sad you took this so wrong. I guess the net realy has no place for good faith inquiry anymore.
I misunderstood you. I thought the "But there seem to be too many notes here to not call it a symphony" was referring to me. I thought you were insinuating I was a psychopath.
I apologize. I clearly didnt understand what you were saying.
your reason for the burner makes sense. Im just so used to people using burners to troll that I assumed that was the reason. We have had more than a few people harass us by trolling our zoom talks and our posts.
I see that Rick is on the thread and says he's not a psychopath, and I have no reason to doubt him.
However: anyone who thinks "rehabilitation" is the answer for all felons is full of it ([1], [2]). If they are actually psychopaths, therapy is just finishing school for them. It teaches them how to fake normal human emotions better. It gives them a better vocabulary for fooling therapists.
You need someone like Mr. Anon who can spot these con artists and see through their BS.
I'll bite. True story.
This company hired a young guy. Extremely likable dude. (100% female, if that matters) HR loves him, not likes, loves him. Undenyably charming chap. He's hired in a technical position despite having no real education in IT or Computer Science, nor any previous experience.
Turns out he was involved in a fairly recent murder case, did pre-arrest and out on bail. Never mentioned any of it on his CV/application. Things only suface when his trial and subsequent post conviction jailtime comes up.
So, he hired a few other guys to break in and rob an elderly person, who had under his charms confided in him she had a safe full of shinies. Not just hired, he drove them to the site to commit the robbery. They end up killing the eldery woman during the breakin/robbery. The safe turned out to be a fancifull story the granny told the guy.
Murder wasn't solved, but his hired hands start balckmailing him, threathning to rat him out (he was a waiter in a place the elderly woman fequented, where he charmed her). As the blackmail progresses, he sees no way out and walks to the police to cut a deal.
Trial happens, he gets convicted with a light sentence because of ''çooperation'', and after not too long here he is back at the company. HR sends out feelers to the employees (it's a small company of around 50 employees), but it is clear they're still 100% charmed and the whole thing is just to see who would quit once they hired him back so they can prepare.
Now for the kicker: While he was at the company before the trial, and before the company had any idea of his past, he had pitched a SaaS market platform scheme for 'services to the elderly', involving a full database of sensitive info on elderly persons living alone at home.
After his (very) short jail sentence, he is hired back by the company on the same scheme.
Now I've always been an open minded person. I think people can change (infrequently mind you, but possible). But there seem to be too many notes here to not call it a symphony. I have worked with charming psychopaths in the past as has anyone who has been in this business for some time, and you do get better at spotting certain things.
Your thoughts?