Toronto .NET Developers are So Reserved!

When the big name American speakers from VSLive! came to Toronto a while ago, they seemed taken aback by the local audiences. It seems Toronto developers are so reserved that they can unnerve the guy/gal on stage.

I've observed this phenomenon for some time at other events like TechNet and MSDN tours.

The other day, Derek Hatchard and Adam Gallant felt the "Toronto chill" at the MSDN spring tour. When one of Adam's quips produced almost no reaction, he observed, "Gee, they thought that was funny in Calgary."

Speakers should keep in mind that 49 per cent of Toronto's population was born outside of Canada, and among young software developers, that percentage would be even higher. These are talented people when it comes to computer science, but I can tell you from experience that grasping the subtleties of humour in one's second language and culture is not easy.

Like most Canadians, Toronto developers tend to be very polite and somewhat shy. They listen to speakers intently and are loathe to interrupt or disagree. Yelling something out (American-style) to earn a piece of swag just doesn't seem appropriate.

Finally, a large percentage of Torontonians are chronically exhausted. The long morning and evening commutes, the city's noise and commotion, and the grinding pressure of work drag people down. Put these developers in a darkened, airless room after lunch and your PowerPoints risk losing some of them to the snooze.

Just a few thoughts to keep in mind before you assume that you've got a tough, unappreciative Toronto audience. It is probably the opposite... they are trying their best to grasp what you're saying and take it all in.

Ken
Microsoft MVP
Toronto