Smell test anyone?
I know what Jetlife is referring to. Old school AMF. I have friends who hesitate come to AMF based on their knowledge of the training culture of over 10 years ago.
Is it the same now? Make your case, they're listening (or reading as it were). They just bought a redbird sim for a week of remedial training prior to indoc. Do training captains need to be more friendly? Seems to be an individual thing to me as opposed to a "culture." I've had a spectrum of training captains in my career here. Some I grit my teeth and bear it (and appreciate the "tough love" that made me a better pilot) and others I totally admire for their professionalism and persistence which I try to emulate.
As for pilots who don't make it. There are plenty of us who cringe when someone with a great attitude doesn't make standards. It's a pity when we make generalizations without getting to know people, and it goes both ways (trainers and trainees).