4 ms·

This false dichotomy is equally toxic. Leadership always means bringing people together, not imposing one or other set of idiosyncrasies.

simion314 6y ago
Are you sure that is definition of leadership? Maybe it is more about leading a team to accomplish a goal and not gathering a big crowd and win a popularity contest but failing at your goals, the later seems more like politics.
m000 6y ago
Roman emperors brought people together by throwing other people to the lions. So I'd guess throwing RMS to the mob would also count as good leadership?
- inopinatus 6y ago
  There's a reason that period is referred to as "decline and fall", and use of histrionic language such as "throwing to the mob" is exemplary of the idiocy surrounding this topic. People with behavioural disorders need neither be forgiven their transgressions, nor publicly berated in some infantile display of tyranny, but may/should instead be quietly levered out. Competent managers have been doing so for aeons, including with high profile folks displaying problematic habits, like RMS.
  - m000 6y ago
    > People with behavioural disorders need neither be forgiven their transgressions, nor publicly berated in some infantile display of tyranny, but may/should instead be quietly levered out. I agree with that. I don't call for forgiving RMS, just for proportionate measures to contain his behaviour while not depriving him from his life's work. I believe we went from wrist slaps ("please do not handle your cards inside the conference venue") to mob lynching ("RMS should cease to exist"). Being a member, but not a president, of the FSF board seems like an appropriate middle road to me. And it's up to the rest of the board that reinstated him to keep him contained. In the meantime, anyone else is welcome to: Not invite RMS to their conference. Refuse him registration, if he tries. Give his photo to the security, if needed. That would be proportionate and warranted measures, until RMS provenly gets his act straight. And if he's not ok with that, he's still free to willfully resign.

simion314 6y ago

Are you sure that is definition of leadership? Maybe it is more about leading a team to accomplish a goal and not gathering a big crowd and win a popularity contest but failing at your goals, the later seems more like politics.

m000 6y ago

Roman emperors brought people together by throwing other people to the lions. So I'd guess throwing RMS to the mob would also count as good leadership?

inopinatus 6y ago
There's a reason that period is referred to as "decline and fall", and use of histrionic language such as "throwing to the mob" is exemplary of the idiocy surrounding this topic. People with behavioural disorders need neither be forgiven their transgressions, nor publicly berated in some infantile display of tyranny, but may/should instead be quietly levered out. Competent managers have been doing so for aeons, including with high profile folks displaying problematic habits, like RMS.
- m000 6y ago
  > People with behavioural disorders need neither be forgiven their transgressions, nor publicly berated in some infantile display of tyranny, but may/should instead be quietly levered out. I agree with that. I don't call for forgiving RMS, just for proportionate measures to contain his behaviour while not depriving him from his life's work. I believe we went from wrist slaps ("please do not handle your cards inside the conference venue") to mob lynching ("RMS should cease to exist"). Being a member, but not a president, of the FSF board seems like an appropriate middle road to me. And it's up to the rest of the board that reinstated him to keep him contained. In the meantime, anyone else is welcome to: Not invite RMS to their conference. Refuse him registration, if he tries. Give his photo to the security, if needed. That would be proportionate and warranted measures, until RMS provenly gets his act straight. And if he's not ok with that, he's still free to willfully resign.