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Now this is an interesting answer and i thank you for it. You don't have a problem that is in search of a solution. You have a real reason why github's publicit

Now this is an interesting answer and i thank you for it. You don't have a problem that is in search of a solution. You have a real reason why github's publicity can actually be a bit hindering. And i am even more grateful because it's truly a way i have not yet considered. See, for me github is a tool that i approach as dispassionately as my garage door opener. It is a thing with which i personally solve problems. Those problems are broken software or broken documentation. I use github to fix things. And i'm almost always doing so with a sense of nearly full confidence in that my issues or PRs will either fix a problem, or allow me to gain information so i can fix it. The only doubt i have is when i recognize the maintainer is not very skilled or otherwise mentally a little of the beaten path and might need some convincing. The least concern i ever have is "someone might see what i'm doing", which is why i've ended up with 210 forks in my account. I didn't think that concern could ever be a thing since i started using Github long after the time when i last had reason to feel truly self-conscious about the code or documentation i'm creating, and you did remind me of the time before that point, so i can understand you now. Maybe with time it will get better for you, maybe not. Please keep sending emails with patch files if that's what you feel most comfortable with. And thank you. :)

lambda 12y ago
I think that it's a little bit of a problem with a lot of the modern "social web" mindset; it all implies that you should feel comfortable doing everything in public, with the whole world watching you. The problem is, there are people for whom this really doesn't work well. Some might just personally feel uncomfortable about it. Some might be concerned about future career prospects. Some might be women, who are worried about online harassment. Some might be people with stalkers, who are trying to avoid any kind of traceable online public trail. This whole "share all the things" mentality leads to somewhat creepy exposure of everyone's private lives to governments, corporations, the general public (which can act as a mob on occasion), and also specific private individuals who you might be trying to avoid exposing things to.

lambda 12y ago

I think that it's a little bit of a problem with a lot of the modern "social web" mindset; it all implies that you should feel comfortable doing everything in public, with the whole world watching you. The problem is, there are people for whom this really doesn't work well. Some might just personally feel uncomfortable about it. Some might be concerned about future career prospects. Some might be women, who are worried about online harassment. Some might be people with stalkers, who are trying to avoid any kind of traceable online public trail. This whole "share all the things" mentality leads to somewhat creepy exposure of everyone's private lives to governments, corporations, the general public (which can act as a mob on occasion), and also specific private individuals who you might be trying to avoid exposing things to.