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Linus gets to do what he wants to do because he was extraordinarily successful in his field from a very young age. In other words, he's spoiled. If he had to "
by officemonkey 13y ago
Linus gets to do what he wants to do because he was extraordinarily successful in his field from a very young age. In other words, he's spoiled.
If he had to "work for a living," ie: work in a job he needed, rather than a job he wanted, he would likely have had a job which enforced behavioral norms. He probably wouldn't have been as happy, but he likely would more polite.
One of the things schools do is to socialize us to maintain civility. This only works for some people. It's clear to me that Linus is rather incapable of realizing he's being a douche, and even if he does realize it, he's not interested in changing for other people. And since it's Linus' sandbox, you either deal with it or go home.
However, the main point of his argument is valid. People are different and we should align ourselves with people that support our preferred way of working. If you can't work with Linus directly because he's a douche, then you better find an insulating support structure, or find another project.
- vacri 13y agoAnd yet another comment chiding Torvalds for not maintaining civility... while insulting him ('being a douche'). You talk about being 'incapable of realising' - perhaps review your own comment.
- rtpg 13y agoisn't any form of criticism an insult? Plus we're talking about Torvald's attitude, hard to avoid personal attacks when we're talking about the person himself.
- vacri 13y agoNot at all. Constructive criticism isn't insulting by definition. Calling someone a douche isn't constructive criticism. And there's a difference between attacking a person and attacking the actions - and look at what Torvalds does. Even his famous "shut the fuck up Mauro" comment is telling Mauro that his behaviour is inappropriate. He's not saying 'Mauro, you are a douche' directly insulting the guy, he's saying "I'm angry with you because you're breaking our tenets", talking about his actions and behaviour, and he even finishes up with expecting Mauro to fix the technical issue - a tacit acknowledgment of capability.
- officemonkey 13y agoCalling someone a douche is constructive criticism. If I call you a douche, it means you're acting in self-centered, antagonistic manner that aggravating the relationship. Of course some people don't care about that. People don't fix things they don't feel are broken.
- vacri 13y agoRubbish. Constructive criticism requires input on specific paths to improve the situation. Telling someone they're a douche is just applying a generic insult. It's not even criticism of any kind, as douche is nonspecific.
- officemonkey 13y ago>Rubbish. You're acting in self-centered, antagonistic manner that is aggravating the relationship.
- vacri 13y agoI also think exactly the same thing of you, given that you think I'm stupid enough to believe that being called a douche is 'constructive criticism'. It doesn't require profanity to insult someone.
- officemonkey 13y agoIf you're offended by the word douche to describe a jerk, then we occupy different cultures. Similarly, if someone thinks being called a "jerk" is an insult devoid of constructive criticism, then they're likely either intentionally obdurate or they lack the self-awareness to identify their failings. I'm perfectly aware of my ability to be a douche. I just choose who to be a jerk to. Strangers on the internet: possibly; colleagues I work with: not so much.
- vacri 13y ago
- boomlinde 13y ago> isn't any form of criticism an insult? Not if you go by the dictionary definitions. By what definition is any form of criticism an insult?
- officemonkey 13y agoI'm not chiding him. I'm describing him. I don't have a problem with his attitude. I wouldn't like working with him, but I at least accept it.