The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →“John” is not a real programmer or a measured profile. He is the entitled developer in Christopher Pitt’s opinion essay: a character through whom Pitt examines attitudes he says he recognized in himself. The essay’s useful question is not whether programmers as a group are privileged, but whether professional advantages are turning into dismissive, irresponsible behavior.
What does “John” represent?
Christopher Pitt’s “How Privileged Are Programmers? Are You a John, Too?” was published by SitePoint on April 24, 2017; the page displays an update date of February 29, 2024. Pitt presents John as an archetype, not a case study or representative sample. He describes a young, self-taught developer raised in comfort, then says he recognized similar attitudes in himself.
That distinction matters: the essay is a personal reflection about workplace conduct, not research showing how programmers generally behave or how common privilege is in the profession.
Which behaviors does the essay challenge?
Pitt’s criticism centers on how a developer treats other people and handles responsibility. The patterns he calls out include:
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Careercup, Easy To Read
- Condition : Good
- Compact for travelling
- Showing contempt for colleagues or assuming their contributions are less valuable.
- Resenting meetings, questions, or requests for help as interruptions rather than part of working with a team.
- Blaming other people for delays instead of being candid about one’s own role.
- Overstating progress, then leaving others to discover that work is not done.
- Procrastinating while expecting talent or the possibility of another job to soften the consequences.
These are examples from Pitt’s account, not a diagnostic test. A single difficult day does not make someone “a John”; repeated choices and the willingness to take responsibility are more revealing.
How is workplace entitlement different from programmer privilege?
The phrase can point to two related but distinct ideas. One is the essay’s focus: entitlement expressed through conduct, such as dismissing colleagues or evading accountability. Another is the broader question of whether people in programming have advantages—Pitt’s page FAQ mentions possibilities such as high salaries, flexible schedules, remote work, and demand for programming skills.
Those possible occupational advantages do not establish that every programmer enjoys them, or that every programmer has the same access to the profession. The SitePoint page supplies no data measuring how widely the advantages or behaviors apply. It is therefore more accurate to treat the essay as an invitation to self-examination than as evidence about programmers as a population.
How can you ask whether you are acting like John?
Use the essay’s examples as prompts for specific, observable questions rather than as a label:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRank #3
- When a colleague asks a question or requests help, do I respond respectfully, even when I am busy?
- Do I treat coordination and meetings as part of the work, or assume they are beneath me?
- When a task slips, do I explain what happened clearly and own my part, or redirect blame?
- Do my progress updates reflect what is actually complete, including uncertainty and blockers?
- When my work affects others, do I communicate early enough for them to plan?
- Do I assume my skills, background, or ability to find another job entitle me to ignore shared expectations?
If an answer is uncomfortable, the practical response is to identify the behavior, consider who bears its cost, and change what you do next. For example, replace a vague assurance with an honest status update, acknowledge your contribution to a delay, or give a colleague a direct and respectful answer instead of displaying irritation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is Pitt’s conclusion?
Pitt’s argument is normative and personal: take responsibility, treat colleagues professionally, and keep growing. Skill or confidence about future job prospects does not excuse misleading teammates, dismissing their work, or leaving them to absorb the consequences of your choices.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
