nry

I have been doing quite a few technical interviews lately (for a Software Engineer position) and I have slowly begun asking my interviewers more and more technical questions when it is my turn to ask questions. These are generally related to the algorithm question that they wanted me to solve for them, but I have slowly been branching out to asking my own algorithmic questions. I have, surprisingly, been met with varied reactions like:

1) Awkward silence

2) A flat out refusal to answer any of my algorithmic interview questions

3) An excuse not to answer my questions, usually mentioning that we are running out of time

On a few occasions the interviewer willingly answers my questions and we end up having a great technical discussion and both parties involved learn something. I think it is great because it shifts some of the nervousness back on the interviewer to remind them that the candidate is probably nervous as well.

I am wondering why the power dynamic is so skewed towards the employer in these situations? Is what I am doing considered so faux paus?

I have been a long time lurker of http://www.reddit.com/r/compsci but I have always been dismayed by the quality of posts there regarding actual Computer Science.

Every once in a while on HN a great article comes along about Computer Science but they are few and far between. Does anybody know of a strictly Computer Science community on the web?