Jim Pensyl’s Trouble in the Testing Schoolyard
(I had written a critical analysis and response to a post by Jim Pensyl, AKA Jake Brake. Jim subsequently took down that post, and it seems the right thing to take down mine. However, I got two comments on my original piece, and I’ll leave those alone, especially the one by Steve Smith, a friend and colleague whom has always been a bellweather for me.)
November 24th, 2007 at 7:02 am
You’re a jerk, you should make shorter posts and define the terms used. Nice post anyway…
[James’ Reply: Good point. Now, can you write a thousand words on what you mean by “jerk”? Thanks!]
November 25th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
I don’t understand why Jim Pensyl needs to be mentioned by name in this post.
I like and respect you and your work. I would like you to consider something — when you call someone out these days it’s different than when you called someone out in 1993. Your views are supported by a community of people who will rally to your cause with much less thought than you might like.
I am empathetic to the people who you call out. I am reminded of a post from Linus Torvalds ripping someone apart in a forum for suggesting that programming languages other than C were appropriate for operating system tools. I felt both that person and his ideas were being attacked, which turned me off.
Eliminate Jim’s name from this post and it’s just as powerful.
[James’ Reply: Steve, your opinion matters to me. You are one of the people I am implicitly referring to when I say that I have to answer to members of my own community. There’s no argument you need to make. Just your feeling alone carries a lot of weight by itself.
Actually, I am of two minds about this post. Cem also, in his post on the same subject, originally had in mind a harsher one, but moderated it at the last minute. After struggling with how to deal with the abuse I’ve been getting in SQAForums and elsewhere, I decided that it would be helpful to go meta, and talk a little about community dynamics. Although it is an attack, in that I’m criticizing the behavior pattern of an individual (or two, including Corey) rather than just an idea, I did it in a way that wasn’t a *false* or *vicious* attack, and I hope that you see that. In fact, if you read it carefully, you see that what I am accusing Jim of doing are things that I also claim to do myself (except that I don’t use a pseudonym). This post is an attack, but more an attack in the sense of raising an issue that I suspect Jim could be embarrassed to be the subject of. Even though I named him, it’s an oblique attack.
As I have written before in this blog, I think it is occasionally necessary to recognize that things have gotten personal in a way that should be dealt with publicly. There really are conflicts in this field. We need to deal with this fact. I think my post is about dealing with them. I believe our reluctance as a field to deal with these conflicts has not led to a strong field, but rather has kept us in a state of persistent underdevelopment. Historically, disputes among rival scientists and philosophers have often enriched the field.
I am exemplifying the behavior that I would like to see in other people– less winking and subtle shunning, and more direct engagement about what we believe. I would have *preferred* being named in Jim’s post, instead of having to name myself as the subject of it. It may seem paradoxical, but if we name each other we are creating an environment where everyone is more likely to be prudent with their attacks, because of the risk that the attacker will lose reputation.]
November 26th, 2007 at 12:10 am
James,
You are a generous person. I have always know that about you and I sensed it in your post. You didn’t come across to me as malicious.
I believe that making an argument “personal” impedes learning. When I make an argument personal, it heats me up. I admit that I do like that feeling. But I argue to destroy the other person (and look good doing it) rather than learn. Until I open myself up, I don’t learn a damn thing.
On a more important note, I was thrilled to read that Lenore is doing well.
All the best to you and yours my friend. Enjoy the new office. It looks fabulous.
Happy Holidays,
Steve