A very interesting read...
I think the fact remains that most developers are civilized and do possess a modicum of social skill (some may argue that anyone spending eight or more hours a day writing code on a computer must be autistic by definition, however as a developer myself I do hold more charitable view 
As host of a technical forum (TechSoup Software forum) I have found over the years that we do at times attract responses of the type highlighted in this article - but these are by far in minority, and in my experience anyone who presents themselves as 'expert' yet at the same time is discourteous, rude and arrogant to someone genuinely asking for help... usually is just plain discourteous, rude, arrogant, and tends to provide answers of little or no value. The true professional (software developer as with any other profession), would not behave in the manner suggested by this article.
Another consideration that may or may not generate some debate...
In her book "The Female Brain"; Dr Louann Brizendine argues the biological differences of males and females. This is extended by researcher Phyllis Holman Weisbard who through survey determines that value structures also differ between women and men, particularly when it comes to technology and the Internet (ed: I don't for a moment doubt the superiority of the female mind!) - one of her more striking observations concerns the different ways women and men approach Internet discussion and technical support forums...
"Men championed individual freedom as the highest good, whereas women, 'harmonious interpersonal interaction'. Men like debate - 'constructive denunciation' as one male SWIP (Society for Women in Philosophy) member referred to it, but not open hostility or flaming. In contrast, many women did not distinguish between hostility, angry, adversarial comments and rational adversariality."; (source CIO December 2006)
IMO the moral of this story is clear... We need both men and women providing input into technical support forums; we need both women and men moderating our technical forums; we do NOT need spoilt children who believe rudeness and arrogance can be masked by a misguided sense of technical self-superiority.
Cheers, Don (just another mere male
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