The Angry Tester

I just got finished reading through the blog of one of the "Test Celebrities". You know the ones I'm talking about - they write the books, speak at all the conferences, etc. I have to admit, I don't like many of them. I went to a conference once and watched three of them gang up on a poor speaker. They all share one thing in common - believe as they tell you or else. How dare anyone disagree with them? Well I do, often, and I'm saying it here!

My experience also hit home - I never want to be one of them! I'll give you my 2-cents worth here, but it is just that....my opinion. Take it or leave it. It really doesn't matter to me. Please disagree with me - I encourage it! I'm not the expert in software testing, nor have I or will I, ever claim to be. Unlike my "colleagues" I would never publically humiliate a speaker.

Anyway - I digress. This "Test Celebrity" is very angry. There were two particular hot strings to follow. The first is an ongoing feud between himself and another celebrity. The second - someone had the audacity to question the expert. How dare they! The really sad part is that they seem to have followers who are just as angry, if not more so.

I disagreed with one of them once. I was following a software testing mail list and made a comment (nothing derogatory) about a task they were giving to the members of the list. Basically they presented a test scenario and asked the members to write in describing how they would test it. I had seen this tactic before. They would typically provide a nasty response back to the group if anyone dared to think differently. I wrote back simply saying that it might be a more helpful learning experience if the "celebrity" told the group how he would handle it using their process. The next day one of the other "celebrities" added a post to the group publically ridiculing ME! Again, I'm open to disagreement and I have no problem if you disapprove of me or my ideas in a public forum. But this was just downright nasty! Something that would have best been delivered in a private email and not a public post. He was also one of the culprits that ridiculed the conference speaker. Needless to say, I have absolutely no respect for him or his ideas.

So who do I like? Very few. I can count them on one hand. I read their stuff (books, articles, etc.) all the time and I've implemented some of their ideas. They are not only entertaining - they know their stuff. I try to never miss a chance to see them. Three speakers to never miss: Randy Rice, James Whitaker, and Lee Copeland. The "always miss" list has 4 members, but I'll keep that one to myself. I won't seek them out, but if they are at a conference I'm attending I'll stop by for a visit. Payback is a b%^&*! GAME ON! :o)

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of Software Testing Club - An Online Software Testing Community to add comments!

Join Software Testing Club - An Online Software Testing Community

Comment by Dave Whalen on November 24, 2009 at 7:09pm: I totally agree Rosie! I'd tell you what is should look like but it might give away their identity. :o)

Comment by Rosie Sherry on November 24, 2009 at 5:50pm: I think this calls for a new Tester Type character :)

Comment by Lanette Creamer on November 24, 2009 at 4:46pm: Dave, just so you know, I'm not trying to be critical because I've done the same thing. When I started blogging in 2006 I told a story about a training I got mad at and walked out of. I was publicly scathing. Now a few years later, that isn't my favorite thing to start out with. Yeah, at the time it made me feel better, but I don't want to be "that one tester who hates _______ person, or that one person in the gang with ________". I want other testers to talk to me about my own ideas and their new ideas, not ideas over 20 years old that keep getting rehashed. As I've started presenting and writing, I realize it is MUCH harder than it looks. I've had bad days. It's changed how I think about the people who present. I've also come to realize that some people's speaking style just irritates me and rubs me the wrong way, while other styles work well for how my brain works. I vote with my feet. Some of the same speakers you adore really don't reach me, and that is fine. That is why there are many choices.

I just got to thinking though, if they pull so much focus still and if their fame and drama is our focus, what interesting things are going to be there in years future when they are ready to retire? When at a conference the buzz should be about your idea, not about you giving such and so the finger. We have a chance to change things by being different and letting their antics become the old thing. We can take the useful parts and leave the rest. The new thing is whatever we make it. If we aren't focused on the same old dynamic, we are less likely recreate it. It doesn't have to be that way.

Comment by Dave Whalen on November 24, 2009 at 3:56pm: Thanks for calling me out Lanette. I didn't mean to sound angry, just a poor attempt at trying to be funny. I respect anyone who speaks at conferences. I may not always agree with them but I would never publically ridicule or embarass anyone - either in person or in a blog like this. Sadly, many people see personal blogs or this as a forum to vent their anger and frustration. I'm guilty myself. I try not to get personal, and it's usually tongue-in-cheek. I appreciate your comments! Hope to hear more from you.

Comment by Leslie Crandall on November 24, 2009 at 3:04pm: I can't say I totally disagree with you on this. I've never understood why, in a field which demands collaboration and teamwork, some folks just have a hard time agreeing to disagree. I would never say there are any speakers I go out of my way to miss; I actually enjoy the opportunity to have someone prove me wrong. But, I agree in that I've been to many conferences and speaking engagements where what should be a roundtable discussion and an opportunity to learn from each other turns into a "This is my way or the highway, if you don't follow these exact steps, you won't succeed."

Comment by Linda Wilkinson on November 24, 2009 at 2:51pm: Actually, I think getting angry at swine-like behavior is healthy. Part of the reason we have a such elements in this industry to begin with is that we've cultivated it by either kissing up to it (so as not to become a victim) or ignoring it.

I think it's better to point a finger at it (which finger is up to you) and say "Bad Dog!!!".

And perhaps a rolled-up newpaper to the nose would also be helpful.

Regardless, kudos for a brave post and save the rest of us a seat when that "visit" takes place. If you get tossed from a STAR conference, they can take the rest of us with you....

LOL.

- Linda

Comment by Lanette Creamer on November 24, 2009 at 2:03am: I agree with you that the divisive aspects of software testing are disheartening, but here you are taking sides and joining in the anger. That is too bad. I hope that you can continue to share your ideas and focus on your own testing rather than the "payback" or "revenge". All you need to do is be more interesting, innovative, and a better contribution to the testing than your detractors, and then, who knows?

Who will the next generation of test leaders be? It is being defined constantly, and not by those who are too angry to innovate. I've spoken to Lee and he is amazingly helpful to new writers and speakers. I hope to see you around at a conference some time. I may have respect for ideas that work well for me in practice, but do not put all people who find an approach useful into the same generalization.

Comment by Sherilyn Tasker on November 23, 2009 at 10:51pm: I totally agree with you, they sometimes put on the performances of 5 year olds and its cringe worthy. I suspect some heads have got too big to fit through a door. I haven't heard any of your recommended speakers but will certainly look out for them in future.