Dave Rodenbaugh – Five Pervasive Myths About Older Software Developers:

"Experienced software developers smell crap a mile away. […] They won’t put up with managers asking them to work 80 hours a week because the customer wants the software next month and they already told you it will take 3 more months to complete with the features agreed upon.

Younger developers haven’t been in those situations as frequently and therefore, have less resistance to bad management practices. The only desirable trait management wants here is naivete. If you want a great team and great products coming out of it, having people that can call you out on bad decisions will save your bacon again and again."