Comments on: Slaves of the 21st century http://www.shino.de/2009/12/21/slaves-of-the-21st-century/ Software Testing, Craftsmanship, Leadership and beyond Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:07:38 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Markus Gärtner http://www.shino.de/2009/12/21/slaves-of-the-21st-century/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Markus Gärtner Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:29:47 +0000 http://blog.shino.de/?p=521#comment-79 Ah, I finally see, that people don't take me serious enough on the rant thing. This blog entry is actually a write-up of some strange things I noticed, scattered with some enlightening exaggerations. So, don't take it serious, but watch out about it in your days at work. Ah, I finally see, that people don’t take me serious enough on the rant thing. This blog entry is actually a write-up of some strange things I noticed, scattered with some enlightening exaggerations. So, don’t take it serious, but watch out about it in your days at work.

]]> By: Arcadie http://www.shino.de/2009/12/21/slaves-of-the-21st-century/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Arcadie Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:04:48 +0000 http://blog.shino.de/?p=521#comment-78 If I wouldn't know you, I would have thought you are a frustrated tester who hates the world, including software developers :). Nice post, I really enjoyed it :) Just tell me when the revolution starts :) If I wouldn’t know you, I would have thought you are a frustrated tester who hates the world, including software developers :). Nice post, I really enjoyed it :) Just tell me when the revolution starts :)

]]> By: Markus Gärtner http://www.shino.de/2009/12/21/slaves-of-the-21st-century/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Markus Gärtner Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:41:31 +0000 http://blog.shino.de/?p=521#comment-67 Hi Lanette, I hope you noticed I was exaggerating here. Of course we're not slaves, but sometimes I feel punished like one. And of course you always have choices that you may make. But it seems there are companies out there who treat developers as the nobility and testers as their sub-ordinates may make the testers feel like some piece of dirt. Hi Lanette,

I hope you noticed I was exaggerating here. Of course we’re not slaves, but sometimes I feel punished like one. And of course you always have choices that you may make. But it seems there are companies out there who treat developers as the nobility and testers as their sub-ordinates may make the testers feel like some piece of dirt.

]]> By: Lanette http://www.shino.de/2009/12/21/slaves-of-the-21st-century/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Lanette Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:27:02 +0000 http://blog.shino.de/?p=521#comment-66 I am going to politely disagree with a few reasons. If anything, testers are servants, not slaves, and it is a bit insulting to slavery and those who willingly serve to compare the two. Developers are not the masters either, they are also servants, more immediately to corporate management, but ultimately to the free market, stockholders, and ultimately the customer. The difference between a slave and a servant is willingness and the ability to quit. Testers can quit anytime they want to. When testers talk about offering a service they never talk about what that implies. That they are then a servant and agreeing to service for a fee or in exchange for something. So, a slave? No. A servant? Yes, and I've agreed to it. So, should the servants renegotiate terms? Maybe in some contexts, but we are not slaves and developers are not masters. They are servants just as we are, but perhaps one tier above us in the hierarchy of respect. To serve can be something beautiful. Slavery is not. I am going to politely disagree with a few reasons. If anything, testers are servants, not slaves, and it is a bit insulting to slavery and those who willingly serve to compare the two. Developers are not the masters either, they are also servants, more immediately to corporate management, but ultimately to the free market, stockholders, and ultimately the customer.

The difference between a slave and a servant is willingness and the ability to quit. Testers can quit anytime they want to.

When testers talk about offering a service they never talk about what that implies. That they are then a servant and agreeing to service for a fee or in exchange for something. So, a slave? No. A servant? Yes, and I’ve agreed to it. So, should the servants renegotiate terms? Maybe in some contexts, but we are not slaves and developers are not masters. They are servants just as we are, but perhaps one tier above us in the hierarchy of respect.

To serve can be something beautiful. Slavery is not.

]]> By: Parimala Shankaraiah http://www.shino.de/2009/12/21/slaves-of-the-21st-century/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Parimala Shankaraiah Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:58:07 +0000 http://blog.shino.de/?p=521#comment-65 Hi Markus, I was thinking on similar lines recently. More often, Tester's slavery is more because Testers allow/facilitate this slavery by being quite or intimidated. Some testers who fight against this slavery are made out to be outlaws in the world of Software Development. Most testers who stick to slavery can get promoted, get good hikes and yet not do anything meaningful for the betterment of the craft (though testers who defy slavery get to see their own set of benefits). Enjoyed this post, Parimala Shankaraiah Hi Markus,
I was thinking on similar lines recently. More often, Tester’s slavery is more because Testers allow/facilitate this slavery by being quite or intimidated. Some testers who fight against this slavery are made out to be outlaws in the world of Software Development. Most testers who stick to slavery can get promoted, get good hikes and yet not do anything meaningful for the betterment of the craft (though testers who defy slavery get to see their own set of benefits).

Enjoyed this post,
Parimala Shankaraiah

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