10th Person
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A personal essay advocating for disciplined skepticism in software engineering decisions. The author, who is autistic, describes the value of being the 'tenth person' — the one who questions consensus, maps decision trees, and challenges assumptions before they become technical debt. Drawing from the World War Z concept, the post argues that unanimous agreement is a red flag, not a green light. It includes practical steps for adopting this mindset: assume consensus is wrong, map failure paths, question small decisions, and force teams to articulate their reasoning. The author also warns that teams who seek rubber-stamp validation rather than genuine critique are wasting everyone's time.
Table of contents
Consensus is a Red FlagThe Autism AdvantageQuestion Everything, Especially the Easy StuffIt's Not Contrarianism, It's DisciplineDon't Waste My Time If You Just Want AgreementThe Room Needs a 10th PersonHow to Be the 10th PersonIn ClosingSort: