4 ms·

In most other FOSS projects people would be afraid to be that frank when referring to Intel's behavior though.

josteink 9y ago
You also have the case of SJWs and Internet lynch mob’s being a real life threats to your project, your personal privacy and potentially your employment if you don’t show yourself to be “tolerant” enough in your communication. Calling genuine shit out as such can literally land you in a shitstorm if the person receiving message is of wrong color or sexualual orientation, etc, and decides to make that the point of the story he passes along.
- awakeasleep 9y ago
  Wow I didn’t think of that but what if a woman wrote the code in that patch? Linus would be making her feel unwelcome.
  - xxs 9y ago
    There are prior examples of his writing style offending a lady who turned to actually had a pretty potty mount, herself, as well.
    - dvanduzer 9y ago
      As long as a person doesn't pretend they've never been cruel to another person, it isn't hypocritical to call for more kindness. There is also a huge difference between using salty language to emphasize when something is massively complicated versus emphasis when calling someone a huge idiot. As far as this particular Torvalds screed goes, it strikes me as measured for him. He is very clear about what he wants more of and what he wants less of. It's the code that is garbage, and he doesn't get overly personal other than to chide Woodhouse for glossing over the quality of Woodhouse's own contributions. edit: ahh right, "mis-designed by morons" which is pretty inflammatory, and he should do better than that. I suspect he is trying to provoke someone at Intel into explaining their intent. Insult their intelligence, and they'll reveal something about their (possibly sinister) motive.
  - xbmcuser 9y ago
    Why are you assuming it wasn't a female coder
- snowwrestler 9y ago
  Linus would be just as effective if he never used another swear word. It is his technical knowledge, his position as the final committer, and his willingness to stand up for what he believes in, that gives him power. Ranting and swearing is part of who he is personally, but those are not generally required for being a good project leader.
  - trevyn 9y ago
    I think the ranting and swearing help -- they make him more memorable, and therefore more generally well-known. This can then feed on itself a bit to make him more of a public "celebrity" and have more pull than he would otherwise. I agree that his other skills are likely more important overall, and there are certainly other ways to be memorable, but I don't think you can discount the contribution of the ranting.
  - Scarblac 9y ago
    Without the swear words this wouldn't get as much publicity as it does, and that may help in getting Intel to change.
  - TheKarateKid 9y ago
    Linus' swearing falls in line perfectly with the FOSS movement -- to not conform to corporate hierarchy and societal norms. Like others said, his language helps drive the point home and leaves more of an impression. It also humanizes Linus as well.

You also have the case of SJWs and Internet lynch mob’s being a real life threats to your project, your personal privacy and potentially your employment if you don’t show yourself to be “tolerant” enough in your communication. Calling genuine shit out as such can literally land you in a shitstorm if the person receiving message is of wrong color or sexualual orientation, etc, and decides to make that the point of the story he passes along.

awakeasleep 9y ago
Wow I didn’t think of that but what if a woman wrote the code in that patch? Linus would be making her feel unwelcome.
- xxs 9y ago
  There are prior examples of his writing style offending a lady who turned to actually had a pretty potty mount, herself, as well.
  - dvanduzer 9y ago
    As long as a person doesn't pretend they've never been cruel to another person, it isn't hypocritical to call for more kindness. There is also a huge difference between using salty language to emphasize when something is massively complicated versus emphasis when calling someone a huge idiot. As far as this particular Torvalds screed goes, it strikes me as measured for him. He is very clear about what he wants more of and what he wants less of. It's the code that is garbage, and he doesn't get overly personal other than to chide Woodhouse for glossing over the quality of Woodhouse's own contributions. edit: ahh right, "mis-designed by morons" which is pretty inflammatory, and he should do better than that. I suspect he is trying to provoke someone at Intel into explaining their intent. Insult their intelligence, and they'll reveal something about their (possibly sinister) motive.
- xbmcuser 9y ago
  Why are you assuming it wasn't a female coder
snowwrestler 9y ago
Linus would be just as effective if he never used another swear word. It is his technical knowledge, his position as the final committer, and his willingness to stand up for what he believes in, that gives him power. Ranting and swearing is part of who he is personally, but those are not generally required for being a good project leader.
- trevyn 9y ago
  I think the ranting and swearing help -- they make him more memorable, and therefore more generally well-known. This can then feed on itself a bit to make him more of a public "celebrity" and have more pull than he would otherwise. I agree that his other skills are likely more important overall, and there are certainly other ways to be memorable, but I don't think you can discount the contribution of the ranting.
- Scarblac 9y ago
  Without the swear words this wouldn't get as much publicity as it does, and that may help in getting Intel to change.
- TheKarateKid 9y ago
  Linus' swearing falls in line perfectly with the FOSS movement -- to not conform to corporate hierarchy and societal norms. Like others said, his language helps drive the point home and leaves more of an impression. It also humanizes Linus as well.