Agile Otter Blog

It Begins As A Reaction People who are hurt and angry sometimes give in to two unproductive natural urges: Hurt the other back so they'll think twice next time Disconnect oneself from the other to build distance emotionally  Maybe it's these two urges together that drive people to go to categories instead of keeping the context of an interpersonal struggle between two people. It leads to using pejoratives related to the other's race, gender, age, sexuality, religion, etc, probably because these are known sore points, probably because they are shocking (and so speak to pain), and probably because they also leave the other categorized as 'less than'. It satisfies both urges. We don't have to give in to those twin urges.  Most of us have given in at some point in our past.  When I look back far enough into my past I can dredge up an example or two. I would like to make excuses, but I know it was ignorance and willfulness and that I knew it was...

I'm well-known for my distaste of certifications for software developers, trainers, and coaches. What seems to be less-well-known is the reasoning behind that. GETTING certifications is not the big problem. I do not seek or accept certifications, but it's not because owning them is evil.  Yes, a certification is a proxy for a reputation.  Yes, I value reputation greatly and certification almost not at all. No, it's not because the certifications are too easy to acquire.  No, having a body I trust more doing the certification would not help. No, I don't want to certify people or back a certification. No, I'm not jealous because they're making a lot of money. No, I am absolutely not against education in any way, shape, or form.  Vendor Distraction My problem is that once you become a certifying body then certifying more people becomes an important part of the revenue stream. You want to do so profitably so certifying more trainers to sell more ...