Software Test & Performance Collaborative

On Humor

By Matthew Heusser on February 2, 2010 | 1 comments.

Last time, I wrote that our biases can be so strong that we simply can not see the reality that is right in front of us — or that we rationalize the reality we see in order to fit our preconceived notions.

How can you make a point with someone who just doesn’t want to hear?

Well, sometimes, you can’t. But occasionally, there are ways to reach beyond biases. One of the few that people tend to appreciate is not biting criticism but humor. Consider, for example, “Service Oriented Architecture”, which has serious problems with how it has been perceived and implemented. What do I do when I have a conversation with some about SOA and begin to feel uncomfortable?

Why, send them a link to Greg the Architect:

Greg is an ice-breaker; after watching that, people are much more like to discuss what is really going on on the SOA adoption project.

And, believe it or not, I was going to write this article before Michael Bolton went and published his excellent article “Burning Issues of the Day.”

As my colleague Luke Closs might say “Awesome Sauce.”