Re: Re: Overstepping Qualifications [was: Practice: PairProgramming, Sex, etc]

Kent Beck wrote:

> William,
>
> When I write a book about XP, I do represent XP. I accept responsibility
> when I accept readers' money. When I talk on the web I am still 
> accountable
> for the things I say. People consider the source of material they read or
> hear. I want to be a reliable source of useful information.
>
> I try to take the task of communication seriously because I want to
> communicate as clearly as I can. I want to speak clearly and directly from
> my heart (a task that alas eludes me much of the time). I want to speak
> about topics that I feel strongly about. I think that inappropriate
> feelings, when they arise, are a serious problem for teams. I have seen it
> happen often enough that I think I should write about it. The private
> messages I've received about the topic confirm this observation.

We've probably beaten this one to death, but I just have to say that 
your use of the phrase "inappropriate feelings" makes me flinch.  I 
don't consider myself to be in control of my feelings.  They happen, and 
I can acknowledge them or not, or act on them or not.   I've pretty much 
assumed that that is the way it is for most people.  Beyond that there 
is the question of whether a person's feelings are their private affair 
as long as they don't impact the team.  Are we aware of all of the 
feelings that our team members have?  We can read body language, but do 
we know?  Is it our business?

I'm leery of any enterprise which decides what feelings are appropriate 
or inappropriate. It seems like an invasion of privacy and something 
somewhat beyond the work contact.  I wish your phraseology was tied to 
action rather than feeling.

Michael Feathers




------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/nhFolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->