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Would you have enjoyed it if you were the object of one of his rants?

by TomVDB 8y ago

serf 8y ago
In this thought experiment, which one of us is correct (technically)? If he's correct: I'd be upset at being wrong about something, but hopefully i'd have willpower to sober up to the fact that I may in fact be wrong once in awhile. If I'm correct: I'd be upset because a person I respect is technically wrong about something, and then decided to rant about it. Choice C: What if the question is non-technical? Answer : Don't ask Torvalds. He's not an expert in that domain. (truthful answer: I've been a member of a project criticized by him. It felt terrible, but not because of some personal sleight; he just happened to be correct about the inappropriate-ness of what was being used, and being wrong is a tough pill to swallow when you're young and cocky.)
- TomVDB 8y ago
  There are plenty of people who can deal with a rational explanation about why they are wrong, but who are not able to deal with being bullied. As I wrote in a different comment in this thread: I would never consider contributing to the kernel because of the chance (minute as it may be) of getting the Linus-of-old treatment.
  - jlawson 8y ago
    Use of the word "bully" here is concept creep. Bullying is a sustained pattern of targeted verbal or physical aggression. A person insulting your work is not "bullying" unless they're doing it in a targeted, continuous way in order to get at you personally. It's just "insulting". More on why you should not be using concept creep: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/concept-creep/477939/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/concept...
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
jeltz 8y ago
Yes, he has always seemed like a kind and empathic guy, but prone to angry rants and sometimes uncalled for insults. I can handle such people just fine in real life so I do not think I would have any issue with being called out on a mailing list when I fucked up. Should he cut down a bit on the angry rants? Sure, but in general he seems like a really nice guy and I do not think they are a big deal.

Would you have enjoyed it if you were the object of one of his rants?

by TomVDB 8y ago

Would you have enjoyed it if you were the object of one of his rants?

serf 8y ago

In this thought experiment, which one of us is correct (technically)? If he's correct: I'd be upset at being wrong about something, but hopefully i'd have willpower to sober up to the fact that I may in fact be wrong once in awhile. If I'm correct: I'd be upset because a person I respect is technically wrong about something, and then decided to rant about it. Choice C: What if the question is non-technical? Answer : Don't ask Torvalds. He's not an expert in that domain. (truthful answer: I've been a member of a project criticized by him. It felt terrible, but not because of some personal sleight; he just happened to be correct about the inappropriate-ness of what was being used, and being wrong is a tough pill to swallow when you're young and cocky.)

TomVDB 8y ago
There are plenty of people who can deal with a rational explanation about why they are wrong, but who are not able to deal with being bullied. As I wrote in a different comment in this thread: I would never consider contributing to the kernel because of the chance (minute as it may be) of getting the Linus-of-old treatment.
- jlawson 8y ago
  Use of the word "bully" here is concept creep. Bullying is a sustained pattern of targeted verbal or physical aggression. A person insulting your work is not "bullying" unless they're doing it in a targeted, continuous way in order to get at you personally. It's just "insulting". More on why you should not be using concept creep: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/concept-creep/477939/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/concept...
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]

jeltz 8y ago

Yes, he has always seemed like a kind and empathic guy, but prone to angry rants and sometimes uncalled for insults. I can handle such people just fine in real life so I do not think I would have any issue with being called out on a mailing list when I fucked up. Should he cut down a bit on the angry rants? Sure, but in general he seems like a really nice guy and I do not think they are a big deal.