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"There is a higher level of humanity to aspire to than yelling at one another like cavemen OR Machiavellian passive-aggressive faux-politeness." Faux-politenes

"There is a higher level of humanity to aspire to than yelling at one another like cavemen OR Machiavellian passive-aggressive faux-politeness." Faux-politeness is exactly what Linus is criticising here and he definitely doesn't engage in it. And there is no evidence of him yelling like a caveman at this person. Are you referring to some other example? I'd like to see that. The only time I've seen him yelling and fully throttling someone is when they appear to really need a kick in the ass (multiple horrific offenses).

acjohnson55 13y ago
I'm referring to faux-politeness as Linus's strawman alternative to being rude. It's a false dichotomy. And when I talk about behaving like a caveman, I should be clear that I'm generalizing the behavior he's trying to legitimize. I don't claim to have an in depth knowledge of his behavior outside of the handful of times things he's written have popped up here or on Slashdot. For all I know, these are isolated incidents. But even if that's the case, I think it's behavior he should be working on improving, instead of rationalizing. Whether it's coming from him, Steve Jobs, the former Rutgers basketball coach, or whoever else, I simply don't believe that being rude or bullying is optimal or morally acceptable. And I'm not some softie hippie who thinks we should all argue with kid gloves. It's quite possible to be severe and explicit with your thoughts, without being insulting, either to the person or their work.
- grannyg00se 13y ago
  "I think it's behavior he should be working on improving" Why? There are plenty of things that people can work toward improving. He doesn't see his behaviour as something that requires improvement. You think rudeness is morally unacceptable. He doesn't. You are free to disagree and never work with him if you so choose. But you can't legitimately claim authority on the better way based solely on personal opinion.

acjohnson55 13y ago

I'm referring to faux-politeness as Linus's strawman alternative to being rude. It's a false dichotomy. And when I talk about behaving like a caveman, I should be clear that I'm generalizing the behavior he's trying to legitimize. I don't claim to have an in depth knowledge of his behavior outside of the handful of times things he's written have popped up here or on Slashdot. For all I know, these are isolated incidents. But even if that's the case, I think it's behavior he should be working on improving, instead of rationalizing. Whether it's coming from him, Steve Jobs, the former Rutgers basketball coach, or whoever else, I simply don't believe that being rude or bullying is optimal or morally acceptable. And I'm not some softie hippie who thinks we should all argue with kid gloves. It's quite possible to be severe and explicit with your thoughts, without being insulting, either to the person or their work.

grannyg00se 13y ago
"I think it's behavior he should be working on improving" Why? There are plenty of things that people can work toward improving. He doesn't see his behaviour as something that requires improvement. You think rudeness is morally unacceptable. He doesn't. You are free to disagree and never work with him if you so choose. But you can't legitimately claim authority on the better way based solely on personal opinion.