Click baits and testing results

In my opinion, “I’ve given it some thought.” is a pointless expression. Daily I find myself more confident that thinking for human beings is as automatic a function as blood circulation, respiration or digestion.

The flow of thoughts is an uninterrupted film reel. It is an everlasting dialog of either past or future. And, the majority of the mind’s movie has nothing to do with what is actually at hand.

While working with limited knowledge, the mind has a habit of building framework stories to support the content. And, we excel at it. You can personally stop and give it a try. What kind of mental images does a click bait like this conjure?

Weekend: Triple homicide in Glasgow.

It can make our inner storyteller go wild. Oh dear. What could have happened there? A love triangle maybe? Some booze or even drugs?

Even though getting wild is fascinating, it can also quickly become dangerous. Truth and circumstance are often forgotten.

Content without a context is either useless or dangerous because it sets the imagination in motion.

Would the mental images of the headline above change if we were to consider an armed burglar and legitimate self-protection?

While imagination is a great tool, I’d like to avoid it in a professional setting related to the results I provide.

Often a tester only reports on the bugs found. But how many times have you told a story of how you did the testing? Or what was the quality of your work in these circumstances? How frequently do you consider the imagination of your audience?

Someone always creates the context for the content you provide. Luckily, you get to choose if it is you or the mind of your audience.