Old man syndrome
12 May 2026
I’m 60 next month. June 2026 if anyone reads this in the future. I love conferences. Leeds Testing Atelier is one of my favourites alongside TestBash MoTaCon.
Imposter syndrome is a real thing. But so is old ‘person’ syndrome.
The trouble is, it takes everything out of me. My feet hurt from standing up to long. My back hurts from sitting on uncomfortable chairs. My brain is mush from ideas and conversations. I finally get home and collapse.
It is absolutely worth it, but much easier when you are younger. As my wife says, ‘you are the oldest person at the conference!’ Today felt that way.
Imposter syndrome is a real thing. But so is old ‘person’ syndrome.
The trouble is, it takes everything out of me. My feet hurt from standing up to long. My back hurts from sitting on uncomfortable chairs. My brain is mush from ideas and conversations. I finally get home and collapse.
It is absolutely worth it, but much easier when you are younger. As my wife says, ‘you are the oldest person at the conference!’ Today felt that way.
Ady Stokes
Freelance Consultant
He / Him
MoT Ambassador. Currently semi-retired and freelancing. I am, amongst other things, a writer, speaker, and accessibility advocate. Leeds Chapter Lead. MoT Certs curator and article editor for WonderProxy. Testing wisdom, friendly, testing songs and poems. Great minds think differently. STEC and SQEC Certified. Struggling to write a book about testing mindsets and thinking's application in software development.
Open To
Teach
Speak
Podcasting
Meet at MoTaCon 2026
Review Conference Proposals
Write
Simon Tomes
💜
And we're all glad you're still getting stuck in, Ady! Even if it hurts (sorry to hear it hurts). 🫠
Sign in
to comment
There are countless ways to show up and contribute. Which one will you try today?
Explore MoT
Thu, 1 Oct
A tech conference to help you navigate the ever-shifting landscape of Quality Engineering, AI, Leadership, Product, Accessibility and Security.
Boost your career in software testing with the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate. Learn essential skills, from basic testing techniques to advanced risk analysis, crafted by industry experts.
Into the MoTaverse is a podcast by Ministry of Testing, hosted by Rosie Sherry, exploring the people, insights, and systems shaping quality in modern software teams.
