I think a bunch of kids would tend to respond well towards a telling-off for Ted, and instructions to everyone else to stop Ted from being naughty.
Adult professionals, on the other hand, usually face more nuanced problems to which they can offer more constructive solutions, but have developed senses of tact and self preservation which mean they're unlikely to say "Ted wasn't smart enough for the task you gave him" or "actually the senior guy we're all afraid of delayed Ted's work" in a group meeting, both suggestions which might achieve more than a public confessional or argument
I don't think this is a "specific quirk" of developers; I think most sections of society actually require more sugar-coating on their criticism.
IMHO there's something seriously dysfunctional about a manager whose response to a problem with a team member is to belatedly announce it in a public meeting and then follow up by stating they've delegated dealing with it to everyone else, right now, as obviously people will feel much happier voicing things in public they haven't said in private.
Adult professionals, on the other hand, usually face more nuanced problems to which they can offer more constructive solutions, but have developed senses of tact and self preservation which mean they're unlikely to say "Ted wasn't smart enough for the task you gave him" or "actually the senior guy we're all afraid of delayed Ted's work" in a group meeting, both suggestions which might achieve more than a public confessional or argument
I don't think this is a "specific quirk" of developers; I think most sections of society actually require more sugar-coating on their criticism.
IMHO there's something seriously dysfunctional about a manager whose response to a problem with a team member is to belatedly announce it in a public meeting and then follow up by stating they've delegated dealing with it to everyone else, right now, as obviously people will feel much happier voicing things in public they haven't said in private.