From what you're saying (and here we have only YOUR point of view and description) there's something poisonous in that company/position/sector/department and it's gonna end bad no matter what. I don't think any team can run a marathon successfully with that kind of attitude towards team-mates.
A couple of advises:
1) Since you had this experience, try not to be a dick on newcomers when your time comes. You said that you were a bit cocky. Now imagine how the other guy in the room must have felt.
2) Generally being kind and humble will get through lions or lambs equally unharmed. I've seen it happen. I'm talking about being humble even to the ones that are openly rude to you - that kind of thing - by giving them a second and third and forth chance.
3) IMHO it's better to stand your ground accept who you are and ask what you don't understand. Make them teach you one way or another. Since you're there try to take away whatever you can. Again try being humble and kind. Maybe there are others that feel exactly like you do but don't come forward because they lack the same strength of character that you do. It takes guts to say I don't know in a hostile environment. Stick to what you know, try to do your homework and when the time comes, state your arguments. The explanations might not as convincing as your first thought and as a result this might turn to be a more liberating change of attitude for the entire team.
4) Those guys that you call 'ninja' others call 'newbies'. There's no rock-star developer IMHO, except from prominent figures that have prove themselves over time (e.g. Wall, Torvalds, Thompson, etc.). But even with those guys, you first and foremost have to be yourself: If you feel that you need more detailed explanation ask for it. Politely but firmly, trying everything possible to avoid conflict, state your arguments and questions as best as you can.
5) As Socrates, Plato and Aristotle said, every man has to pursue one and only thing in his lifetime: Happiness. A series of wise choices could make you happy. If the current situation makes you unhappy, try to find out the real reason, make peace with yourself, accept who you are - by accepting who you are you should respect those with less or more knowledge than you at any domain - and if you can't change the environment around by changing yourself, leave. However keep in mind that 3 out of 5 times, the problem is within you.
A couple of advises:
1) Since you had this experience, try not to be a dick on newcomers when your time comes. You said that you were a bit cocky. Now imagine how the other guy in the room must have felt.
2) Generally being kind and humble will get through lions or lambs equally unharmed. I've seen it happen. I'm talking about being humble even to the ones that are openly rude to you - that kind of thing - by giving them a second and third and forth chance.
3) IMHO it's better to stand your ground accept who you are and ask what you don't understand. Make them teach you one way or another. Since you're there try to take away whatever you can. Again try being humble and kind. Maybe there are others that feel exactly like you do but don't come forward because they lack the same strength of character that you do. It takes guts to say I don't know in a hostile environment. Stick to what you know, try to do your homework and when the time comes, state your arguments. The explanations might not as convincing as your first thought and as a result this might turn to be a more liberating change of attitude for the entire team.
4) Those guys that you call 'ninja' others call 'newbies'. There's no rock-star developer IMHO, except from prominent figures that have prove themselves over time (e.g. Wall, Torvalds, Thompson, etc.). But even with those guys, you first and foremost have to be yourself: If you feel that you need more detailed explanation ask for it. Politely but firmly, trying everything possible to avoid conflict, state your arguments and questions as best as you can.
5) As Socrates, Plato and Aristotle said, every man has to pursue one and only thing in his lifetime: Happiness. A series of wise choices could make you happy. If the current situation makes you unhappy, try to find out the real reason, make peace with yourself, accept who you are - by accepting who you are you should respect those with less or more knowledge than you at any domain - and if you can't change the environment around by changing yourself, leave. However keep in mind that 3 out of 5 times, the problem is within you.