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Even if the response can be characterized as bullying - a view which, personally, I do not subscribe to - we still have the same asymmetry here where you are cr

Even if the response can be characterized as bullying - a view which, personally, I do not subscribe to - we still have the same asymmetry here where you are criticizing the person who responded to ridicule, but not those who instigated it. I understand that sometimes people who are bullied become bullies themselves, but that often manifests itself in them bullying third parties who never caused any trouble in the first place. This is clearly not the case here. Two of the more effective responses to bullying are to bring it out into the light and to encourage its victims to stand up for themselves (an act which is a great booster of self-confidence - more effective than becoming a bully oneself, as in that case, the original problem remains unresolved.) Nothing in this position should be construed as dismissing kindness and encouragement as virtue signaling.

ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
Well, it depends. Linus T. is probably a 0.0001% programmer. One of the very best in the entire world. I mean, he wrote the core of Git, in what? a week? But he is even more well-known for ... other ... attributes. The thing is, he does best, when he constrains his invective for people contributing to the Linux kernel; one of the most important and critical pieces of software on Earth. I can totally understand his position (although I would not do things the same way). I'm not sure that it makes me interested in becoming a Linux contributor (as if I'd be qualified, anyway). As far as I know, he has not gone onto other OS projects, and insulted their authors and maintainers. But frankly, I'm glad that someone of his skill, that takes Quality as seriously as does he, is on the job at Linux. I am actually worried about what will happen, if he's no longer around. I hope that he has instilled as much fervor in the next generation. Disclaimer: I worked at one of the most rigorous optical device manufacturers in the world, for most of my career. I ran into folks like that, on a regular basis. I often wanted to strangle them, but it was also an honor to work with them.
- mannykannot 4y ago
  > Well, it depends. I broadly share your opinion on Torvalds' style of communication and what it takes to keep a complex project on track, but it is not clear to me that I should change my above opinions on account of that - it does not seem to me to be the same situation as the one we are nominally discussing.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
    Oh, heck. I wasn't trying to change your mind. I apologize if it came across that way.
    - mannykannot 4y ago
      My apologies for reading it in an unduly adversarial manner.

ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago

Well, it depends. Linus T. is probably a 0.0001% programmer. One of the very best in the entire world. I mean, he wrote the core of Git, in what? a week? But he is even more well-known for ... other ... attributes. The thing is, he does best, when he constrains his invective for people contributing to the Linux kernel; one of the most important and critical pieces of software on Earth. I can totally understand his position (although I would not do things the same way). I'm not sure that it makes me interested in becoming a Linux contributor (as if I'd be qualified, anyway). As far as I know, he has not gone onto other OS projects, and insulted their authors and maintainers. But frankly, I'm glad that someone of his skill, that takes Quality as seriously as does he, is on the job at Linux. I am actually worried about what will happen, if he's no longer around. I hope that he has instilled as much fervor in the next generation. Disclaimer: I worked at one of the most rigorous optical device manufacturers in the world, for most of my career. I ran into folks like that, on a regular basis. I often wanted to strangle them, but it was also an honor to work with them.

mannykannot 4y ago
> Well, it depends. I broadly share your opinion on Torvalds' style of communication and what it takes to keep a complex project on track, but it is not clear to me that I should change my above opinions on account of that - it does not seem to me to be the same situation as the one we are nominally discussing.
- ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
  Oh, heck. I wasn't trying to change your mind. I apologize if it came across that way.
  - mannykannot 4y ago
    My apologies for reading it in an unduly adversarial manner.