(to be clear, I did find your post funny, so this is friendly feedback.)

> How much choice do you think prickly people have in who they become?

It boils down to if you think being an asshole is congenital and impervious to efforts at self-improvement.

Personally I think we humans all hunger for love and acceptance, and a generous dose of love is Alchemical and can transmutate the lead of assholeness to the gold of beautiful conduct. So next time you see an asshole, give them a hug.

> I have little choice

As a last resort, you could always self-isolate. :}

I’m saying not to dismiss prickliness by declaring that everyone is. Everyone isn’t. Some, many, most? are, sure.

“There’s no point singling out people who steal bulk bin candies. Everyone does it.” is the sentiment that sits wrong with me.

Virtually everyone is prickly when suitably provoked. Some people are just more easily provoked to prickliness than others. Some of it is probably just temperament, but for celebrities in the tech space, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have to deal with an aggravating number of annoying people and that sours their disposition.

All that is a long way of saying have some empathy at the very least and some sympathy if possible.

What if, instead, somebody could offer you a path to change, as unlikely as it may seem? How unwilling are you?

I wish people would find a new word, instead of persisting in using gutter English. Not just back alley, but gutter.

The word “prickly” is neither back alley nor gutter English. The relevant dictionary definition is “ready to take offense” or “easily irritated”. Here’s the etymology: https://www.etymonline.com/word/prickly

I was referring to “asshole”.