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Kernel Dev Tells Linus Torvalds To Stop Using Abusive Language
darthcamaro writes "The Linux Kernel Development Mailing List can be a hostile place for anyone. Now Intel developer Sarah Sharp is taking a stand and she wants the LKML to become a more civil place. Quoting her first message: 'Seriously, guys? Is this what we need in order to get improve -stable? Linus Torvalds is advocating for physical intimidation and violence. Ingo Molnar and Linus are advocating for verbal abuse. ... Violence, whether it be physical intimidation, verbal threats or verbal abuse is not acceptable. Keep it professional on the mailing lists.'"
The entire thread is worth a read, but Linus isn't buying it: "Because if you want me to 'act professional', I can tell you that I'm
not interested. I'm sitting in my home office wearing a bathrobe. The
same way I'm not going to start wearing ties, I'm *also* not going to
buy into the fake politeness, the lying, the office politics and
backstabbing, the passive aggressiveness, and the buzzwords. Because
THAT is what 'acting professionally' results in: people resort to all
kinds of really nasty things because they are forced to act out their
normal urges in unnatural ways.'
He also offered cookies in exchange for joining the dark side. An earlier reply by Linus further explains why he thinks it is OK to be mean: most of the time, he's only yelling at people who should know better (cultivating a crew of lead developers bound to him by Stockholm Syndrome?).
Then those others are morons. How much consideration do the politically correct have for anyone but themselves?
The world would be a much better place if more people were willing to tell others to fuck off.
And people wonder why with pompous a-holes like Linus, more women aren't participating...
My 3 yr old throws a tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants because he doesn't know how to properly communicate and doesn't know any better. He's three.
Linus should grow up but he's too stuck in his ways to change.
Can I come to your door and swear at you all day long? Since you don't care... as a bonus, it would make me feel better for having someone to yell at.
Do we have a deal?
...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
This may actually show how HEALTHY the Linux kernel developers community is. Where else can a junior person tell the CEO he's being an asshole in front of the whole company? You'd be fired.
Yeah, but let's put that in an analogy...
"So, Mr. CEO, it seems like this company has a huge sexual harassment problem..."
"Yeah, but look how we're talking about it openly! In most companies you'd be fired for bringing a complaint to the CEO! Look how healthy this company is!"