Saying something like "Actually, I felt it was unprofessional and disrespectful to not have the interview start at the agreed-upon time" would also be direct, no? The way it's written sounds way more inflammatory.

I am afraid I don’t see how that is significantly different than what I said.

Didn’t your momma teach you that two wrongs don’t make a right??

If someone is a jerk to you, and then you’re a jerk to them… you’re still a jerk.

I do not concede that what I did was “wrong”.

Pointing out something that was objectively douchy isn’t “wrong”. Yes I was a little snarky, and maybe I am a “jerk”, but considering that this person was happy to just waste my time like it was nothing I do think he was entitled to a little embarrassment.

> I do think he was entitled to a little embarrassment

This is exactly the kind of signal that would make me not want to hire someone.

Tit-for-tat? Spite? No thanks.

“Tit for tat” and “spite” feel like they are very strong words for what amounted to a justified smartass comment.

If I had shown up fifteen minutes late for the interview I wouldn’t have gotten an offer and the interviewer might have made a comment about it during the interview and people generally wouldn’t call them an asshole for it.

Yes, the fact that you don't see a problem with saying "he deserved it" as justification is the signal not to hire.

The fact that you only want to hire workers who won’t call you out when they feel like they have been disrespected is a great way to breed a team of people who resent you.

Regardless, you kind of proved what I was trying to say. Most people don’t actually want directness. The fact that when I was direct with someone you’re treating it like some mafioso retribution is telling.

You know what they say about walking a mile in someone else's shoes? By the time they realize it, you'll be a mile away. And you'll have their shoes!

Asking that question just signals that you don't obey social cues.

Most hiring managers won't like this, as they don't want to be responsible for hiring someone volatile like this.

I think the only place you could get away with this is if you're interviewing with a C-Suite member who has nobody to answer to.