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I agree with your first statement totally, the difference is I would rate Linus' attitude, separate from his language, as unpleasant and unnecessarily aggressiv

I agree with your first statement totally, the difference is I would rate Linus' attitude, separate from his language, as unpleasant and unnecessarily aggressive. I don't like aggression in the workplace (or anywhere.) And I think that links into a comment above regarding women; in general women are less aggressive and so feel less at home in this industry. In general, in my opinion, etc, etc.

sergiosgc 13y ago
I don't buy into the view that women are less aggressive. IMO, they display a different kind of aggressiveness, somewhat less frontal but just as damaging. This may be a guy thing, and a clash in behaviour of the sexes. Guys are more prone to bursts of aggressiveness, gals more adept of moderate long term aggressive stances. Which one is more difficult to handle is largely a matter of opinion. Quick bursts are automatically solved immediately, leaving bruised egos, long term allows more time to manage the underlying reason. Just because Linus' stance is flashy does not make it wrong. Unless you posit that aggression is never warranted. Then, we'll have to disagree. Aggression is a normal behaviour, artificial suppression leads to non healthy alternatives; it's better to lay problems out in the open and fix them than to sweep them under the politically correct rug.
- doctorfoo 13y ago
  I would posit that aggression is generally unwarranted. I would consider aggression to be the non healthy alternative to, say, being matter of fact, blunt, terse, and other such ways of giving negative feedback without directly attacking the person. I'm sure there's no perfect dividing line between non-aggressive/aggressive. But it's generally clear when something is nearer the extremes. "Alice, that's completely wrong because X, this code needs to be rewritten from scratch following principle Y." "Bob, what is this retarded shit? You stupid fool, go RTFM and do it again."
  - sergiosgc 13y ago
    Tomato tomahto. We're saying the same thing. Blunt, terse can easily be aggressive. Further, when immediate reaction is needed, an open critic to either behaviour or results(code) may be needed. This may be aggressive, but it gets the job done. If there is no Ill intention towards the other, if the aggression is objectively to get the job done, there's no harm. It leaves a sour taste, but no long lasting effects. Again, full circle, frontal aggressiveness with no grudges. No grudges is really important.

sergiosgc 13y ago

I don't buy into the view that women are less aggressive. IMO, they display a different kind of aggressiveness, somewhat less frontal but just as damaging. This may be a guy thing, and a clash in behaviour of the sexes. Guys are more prone to bursts of aggressiveness, gals more adept of moderate long term aggressive stances. Which one is more difficult to handle is largely a matter of opinion. Quick bursts are automatically solved immediately, leaving bruised egos, long term allows more time to manage the underlying reason. Just because Linus' stance is flashy does not make it wrong. Unless you posit that aggression is never warranted. Then, we'll have to disagree. Aggression is a normal behaviour, artificial suppression leads to non healthy alternatives; it's better to lay problems out in the open and fix them than to sweep them under the politically correct rug.

doctorfoo 13y ago
I would posit that aggression is generally unwarranted. I would consider aggression to be the non healthy alternative to, say, being matter of fact, blunt, terse, and other such ways of giving negative feedback without directly attacking the person. I'm sure there's no perfect dividing line between non-aggressive/aggressive. But it's generally clear when something is nearer the extremes. "Alice, that's completely wrong because X, this code needs to be rewritten from scratch following principle Y." "Bob, what is this retarded shit? You stupid fool, go RTFM and do it again."
- sergiosgc 13y ago
  Tomato tomahto. We're saying the same thing. Blunt, terse can easily be aggressive. Further, when immediate reaction is needed, an open critic to either behaviour or results(code) may be needed. This may be aggressive, but it gets the job done. If there is no Ill intention towards the other, if the aggression is objectively to get the job done, there's no harm. It leaves a sour taste, but no long lasting effects. Again, full circle, frontal aggressiveness with no grudges. No grudges is really important.