I A. Don't see significant similarity between welding and programming B. Think that you would be wrong about people being annoyed about things that make their work harder across any time period.
The difference is how people expressed those emotions or not, not whether they had them.
> It's not possible that the average modern software developer is just a bit more sensitive about their work than a welder was in 1950?
I was responding to this.
My answer is no. Whether they express it or not, I imagine the sensitivity hasn't increased. You can feel something (being sensitive) without choosing to express it.
Emotional control is something well-adjusted people do every day, regardless of what they are feeling. It is simply more acceptable to express these emotions now.
If I had to guess people in the 50s just died inside and then drank themselves to death instead. Or took it out on their families.
I would not be surprised if modern day welders get offended by their equipment manual as well.