First off, what is the transitive property. The transitive property is a concept in math and logic. If a=b and b=c, then a=c is an example. Ma other example is that if a>b and b>c then a>c. So, this is a powerful view in math and logic and is the basis for many things that humans have built.
The problem is that many people view the transitive property as extending to people, expertise, and politics. Let me give you an example in the area of software development. Software developers tend to think that they are infallible because they can do one thing. So, because I am an expert in software development, I am an expert in all things. If people would follow my thoughts, views, and teachings, then everything would be better. No, no, and no. Because you are an expert in one thing, that does not make you an expert in all things. It definitely does not make you an expert in business. It definitely does not mean that you should include your political viewpoint in things.
I find this belief in the transitive property of expertise and especially the belief in pushing political narratives true the higher up in the software development hierarchy you go. Open source believers are very much into it. I also see this in companies as all too often people from Microsoft tend to like to take shots are people, you don’t know how many times my blond hair, blue eyes, and living in the southern US have been called out by people from Microsoft but I digress there. Now, I’m sure that this is not limited to people from Microsoft as i would expect all kinds of technology folks at many different companies to throw spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.
I try to caution people that the transitive property of expertise is not true. Your expertise at being able to “twiddle bits” does not make you an expert at other things. Now, if you have other defined expertise, that is a different discussion. Elon Musk is one example of this. Elon Musk is a great entrepreneur. He is not great at finance and fraud detection in the US federal government. He is currently (h1 of 2025) getting barbecued for it. He should not have gotten involved in politics in his career, period, either as a Democrat or a Republican.
The problem in all of this is that people will put their politics above many things, including friendships. If you alienate your friends, who do you expect to help you when you need it? Your enemies? I’ve watched as people recently have been losing jobs and several have openly talked about being out of work on LinkedIn. I’ve got several folks who I know that do put their politics aside inspite of their expertise and we do get along. I don’t have their permission to mention them, so I won’t put their names here.
So, back to the original point, don’t believe that your expertise in one things makes you an expert in other things. Don’t push your political views on others when they aren’t asked for. Don’t get too excited about your success.
“Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal.”
