The Purple Sqirrel otherwise know as the Perfect Candidate - What To Do?

[Origisaurus]

the cheapskates ... figure that [you] aren't worth your full rate.

Once a prospect starts to think or talk about "your" worth, rather than the value they expect from your services, you should look for the exit.

I know such folks are a majority, but my time is better spent looking for the genuine clients than haggling for the sake of haggling.

[unix]

Better to be the condescending technoid prick who shoots down perfectly good applicants than to be filing for unemployment.

Thoughts?

It reminds of that wildlife web camera some national geographic team setup in Africa -- where the lions / tigers / elephants would come to drink from one puddle. Small puddle - lots of wildlife, all competing for the same limited resource, biting each other. IT is  the same thing. I see a lot of hostility in IT for much the same reasons. It's gotten so habitual that people shoot down non-competitors.

[The Gorn]

^ Exactly.

[TechTalk]

It reminds of that wildlife web camera some national geographic team setup in Africa...

I like your analogy.

The truth is that at a fundamental level "geeks" are no different than any other human being on this planet.  In other words, they can be (and often are) just as petty or ruthless as the next person.

[Walter Mitty]

I like "Batlle at Kruger Dam".

[The Gorn]

It reminds of that wildlife web camera some national geographic team setup in Africa -- where the lions / tigers / elephants would come to drink from one puddle. Small puddle - lots of wildlife, all competing for the same limited resource, biting each other. IT is  the same thing. I see a lot of hostility in IT for much the same reasons. It's gotten so habitual that people shoot down non-competitors.

a la Meercat Manor - "Programmer Manor".

What would "Programmer Manor" look like?

[datagirl]

It reminds of that wildlife web camera some national geographic team setup in Africa -- where the lions / tigers / elephants would come to drink from one puddle. Small puddle - lots of wildlife, all competing for the same limited resource, biting each other. IT is  the same thing. I see a lot of hostility in IT for much the same reasons. It's gotten so habitual that people shoot down non-competitors.

a la Meercat Manor - "Programmer Manor".

What would "Programmer Manor" look like?

Folks peeking over the top of the cubicles at the cube farm to see who got devoured by the management carnivores?

[Walter Mitty]

Meerkats are prey to predators, but also insectivores themselves.  They will even prey on small birds if they get the chance.

According to Wikipedia, meerkats exhibit altruistic behavior in defense of the group.  I would call it "pack behavior", which I don't think is exactly the same thing as "altruistic behavior".  Both differ from individualistic behavior. 

During my career, the absence of pack behavior was notable among programmers.  Lemming behavior is not pack behavior.  The principal vlaue of lemming behavior is to prevent overpopulation. 

[The Gorn]

That show made disease and ripping apart clan enemies so cuuuute. 

It was adorable to watch but also pretty gruesome.

Yes, programmers are dumber than wild animals. "I'm not a member of a pack! I stand alone! I'm yoo-neek! Arg, why am I being singled out???!!! Being alone and defenseless sucks! Why me?"

[datagirl]

That show made disease and ripping apart clan enemies so cuuuute. 

It was adorable to watch but also pretty gruesome.

Yes, programmers are dumber than wild animals. "I'm not a member of a pack! I stand alone! I'm yoo-neek! Arg, why am I being singled out???!!! Being alone and defenseless sucks! Why me?"

Old joke:

How do you catch a unique rabbit?
  u-nique up on it.

How do you catch a tame rabbit?
  tame way.

Yeah, it's a jungle out there. (ducking).
-DG

[unix]

The truth is that at a fundamental level "geeks" are no different than any other human being on this planet.  In other words, they can be (and often are) just as petty or ruthless as the next person.

Or more so. Knowledge without morality is a powerful thing.