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how is that an excuse for being uncivil? if you're burnt out then don't attend the talk? simple.

pavlov 7y ago
From my own past experience with depression, it’s not as simple as “I’ll just stop doing all the things that have kept me in motion until now.” This is not meant to speculate on van Rossum’s health, just trying to point out that there are situations where apparent rudeness may be out of the person’s immediate control.
- newen 7y ago
  You can say the same thing about anyone doing anything. It's just giving excuses for bad behavior.
  - yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
    Yes. It is an excuse, even for poor behavior.
- geofft 7y ago
  If you're sufficiently in control of your actions to keep developing a major programming language, you're sufficiently in control of your actions to either not be rude while doing so or be aware that you're going to be rude and need to find a way of dealing with the situation (avoiding it, taking extra time before speaking, working with a therapist, whatever). Mental health issues don't excuse bad behavior. (Also, personally, if I were behaving poorly I would much prefer people to say "hm, 'geofft is being rude but I know he's a better person than that and can improve" and not "hm, 'geofft is being rude, that's just the way he is, I wonder if he's got mental health problems.")
  - phyzome 7y ago
    > Mental health issues don't excuse bad behavior. Basically agreed. > If you're sufficiently in control of your actions to keep developing a major programming language, you're sufficiently in control of your actions to [...] not be rude while doing so [...] That's a lovely thought, but no. When I've had bad times, my social skills and emotional cope would sometimes go to shit and leave my technical skills intact.
syntaxfree 7y ago
There's galaxies or distance between "this is acceptable" and "this is understandable". People are screwed up. You are, too. I hope your business partners and allies don't hold you to the standard you're bearing when your time to behave badly comes.

From my own past experience with depression, it’s not as simple as “I’ll just stop doing all the things that have kept me in motion until now.” This is not meant to speculate on van Rossum’s health, just trying to point out that there are situations where apparent rudeness may be out of the person’s immediate control.

newen 7y ago
You can say the same thing about anyone doing anything. It's just giving excuses for bad behavior.
- yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
  Yes. It is an excuse, even for poor behavior.
geofft 7y ago
If you're sufficiently in control of your actions to keep developing a major programming language, you're sufficiently in control of your actions to either not be rude while doing so or be aware that you're going to be rude and need to find a way of dealing with the situation (avoiding it, taking extra time before speaking, working with a therapist, whatever). Mental health issues don't excuse bad behavior. (Also, personally, if I were behaving poorly I would much prefer people to say "hm, 'geofft is being rude but I know he's a better person than that and can improve" and not "hm, 'geofft is being rude, that's just the way he is, I wonder if he's got mental health problems.")
- phyzome 7y ago
  > Mental health issues don't excuse bad behavior. Basically agreed. > If you're sufficiently in control of your actions to keep developing a major programming language, you're sufficiently in control of your actions to [...] not be rude while doing so [...] That's a lovely thought, but no. When I've had bad times, my social skills and emotional cope would sometimes go to shit and leave my technical skills intact.

syntaxfree 7y ago

There's galaxies or distance between "this is acceptable" and "this is understandable". People are screwed up. You are, too. I hope your business partners and allies don't hold you to the standard you're bearing when your time to behave badly comes.