Was I set up to disappoint? - Sony

Sony and Junior were same-age cousins who had been competing over their performance in school and sports in subtle ways. Neither spoke about it openly, but both felt quietly happy whenever they did better than the other.

Over a family dinner, Junior shared exciting news. He was completing a major in computer science and planning to enter a hackathon with some friends. His eyes lit up as he talked about the project.

Sony, who was a beginner to the world of artificial intelligence, felt a spark of curiosity. "That sounds interesting! Would it be okay if I connected with your friends casually? I would love to learn more about what you're working on."

Junior hesitated for just a moment, then smiled. "Sure, I can set something up."

He didn't want to appear unhelpful, especially in front of the family. But privately, Junior didn't want Sony in this social circle. This was his space, his expertise, his friends.

When Junior contacted his friends, he framed the introduction differently. "My cousin Sony is quite knowledgeable in AI. He's interested in exploring being part of the team."

The meeting was arranged.

Sony walked in expecting a casual chat, a chance to learn from people who knew more than he did. Instead, Junior's friends launched into technical questions, expecting expertise.

"What's your experience with neural networks?"

"How would you approach this algorithm challenge?"

Sony stumbled. He tried to explain that he was just starting out, that he had hoped to learn from them. But the damage was done. The disappointment on their faces was clear.

Junior's friends walked away thinking Sony had overstated his abilities. Sony walked away humiliated, unsure what had just happened.

Later, when Sony asked Junior what went wrong, Junior shrugged. "I just told them you were interested. Maybe they misunderstood."