This is exactly right. Admittedly software development is not usually life threatening (certainly never on the sort of timescales that farm work can be (in the

This is exactly right. Admittedly software development is not usually life threatening (certainly never on the sort of timescales that farm work can be (in the blink of an eye)), but I assert it remains relevant. Profanity, creative imagery, "emotional 'abuse'", and yes, even yelling (which Linus is not doing) convey meaning in a way that polite words cannot. This style of communication is a hard metal needle that allows you to mainline information.