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Developer Misinterprets Linux Code of Conduct, Suggests Replacing F-Word with 'Hug' (neowin.net)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the big-hugging-mistakes dept.

Seeking compliance with Linux's new Code of Conduct, Intel software engineer Jarkko Sakkinen recently requested comments on a set of changes to kernel code comments which Neowin described as "replacing the F-word with 'hug'. "

80 comments quickly followed on the Linux Kernel Maintainer's List: Several contributors responded to the alterations calling them insane. One wondered if Sakkinen was just trying to make a joke, and another called it censorship and said he'd refuse to apply any sort of patches like this to the code he's in charge of...

Some of the post-change comments read "Some Athlon laptops have really hugged PST tables", "If you don't see why, please stay the hug away from my code", and "Only Sun can take such nice parts and hug up the programming interface".
Eventually LWN.net publisher Jonathan Corbet deflated most of the controversy by pointing out that Linux's new Code of Conduct applies to future comments but clearly indicates that it does not apply explicitly to past comments.

And Jarkko Sakkinen acknowledged that he had missed that part of the discussion.

26 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. Snowflake developers can hug off by mfearby · · Score: 5, Funny

    If seeing the F-word in the Linux source code is a bit too much for you, then perhaps you'd be better off making yet another set of pretty icons for GNOME or KDE.

    1. Re:Snowflake developers can hug off by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This argument comes up in any discussion about what language we should use. The choice of language is somewhat secondary; what really matters is the exact meaning of the word "should" in that sentence. Or rather: what the consequences are of using the wrong language - in any situation. Most people would agree that it's better not to use swear words or insults, but what happens if someone does? Being told off for bad manners, having bad words censored, seeing your pull request denied or your paper rejected, public shaming, being ostracized from the community, fired, or even prosecuted in court? When people talk about acceptable language in their communities these days, the full range of those consequences will be openly discussed and often seriously considered.

      It's good to have a code of conduct - written or unwritten - in any community, but when transgressions carry serious consequences, you'll invariably see some perverted snowflakes push the boundaries of what's acceptable, and gleefully call out violators, especially those with opposing viewpoints. Can't say fuck anymore. Or black. Or master / slave. Peek and poke? Nope. Male / female connectors are out. Can't insult anyone or anything... and you violate that rule whenever someone, anyone feels insulted. Or just crabby.

      Codes of conduct regarding acceptable language are best left unwritten, and are certainly best left undiscussed at length. Because the more you discuss them, the more you formalize them, the worse they get.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  2. I don't give two shits about the word fuck by rsilvergun · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's the intent behind it that matters.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:I don't give two shits about the word fuck by Z80a · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Intent of controlling speech until the project turns into a dystopian nightmare? as soon this kind of people get the hands on the hammer, everything goes to hell.
      I seem examples on all the sides, even non political sides where it's the same.
      The thin skinned guy gets the control over the thing and starts to overreach more and more until the thing is dead.
      Even places like chans can fall for this, with a guy wanting to "combat the cancer" ending up permabanning people for grammar errors or liking the wrong video game console.

    2. Re:I don't give two shits about the word fuck by DogDude · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's a lot of space between "don't be an asshole" and the project being dead. A whole lot of space.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    3. Re:I don't give two shits about the word fuck by Z80a · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The definition of asshole that is a problem.
      There are certain people that declares everyone that don't follow a very narrow definition of people as "not an asshole".

    4. Re:I don't give two shits about the word fuck by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The intent of controlling other people's speech is pretty fucking bad.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    5. Re:I don't give two shits about the word fuck by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So using the word fuck is being an asshole now? Wow, you people really are fragile snowflakes.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    6. Re:I don't give two shits about the word fuck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's a lot of space between "don't be an asshole" and the project being dead. A whole lot of space.

      Never underestimate the destructive power that sjws can have on anything that they touch.My code of conduct is simple : SJWs can fuck off.

  3. Oh, brother by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't hugging believe this...

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Oh, brother by rl117 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I know you meant it as a joke, but language can change exactly like this. When I was at school, a popular insult was to call people a "spaz" (spastic). Because of its use as a generic insult, some do-gooders required everyone to refer to disabled people as "special". Result: "special" becomes a generic insult. Like: "You're a bit special, aren't you" is equivalent to "you're a spaz" or "you're a retard". More recently, the charity the Spastic Society renamed themselves to "Scope". Result: spastic children are now insultingly referred to as "scopers". So the word "scope" is now also an insult in its own right. The point being, no matter how much do-gooders and SJWs clamp down on acceptable language use, the remaining "permitted" words will be adapted to replace them, turning the "new inclusive terminology" on its own head. This isn't a battle they can win, because human nature, at its nastiest best, will always be creative enough to come up with new "bad" language! And while I don't condone bullying or insulting, it does make me happy to see people sticking their fingers up at the SJW-enforced norms.

  4. Such a good use of time by alvinrod · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm glad to see that the code of conduct is resulting such good use of developer time.

    These sad, sad people clearly need a hug.

    1. Re:Such a good use of time by jfdavis668 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think you need a hug.

  5. PST Table by dohzer · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What's a PST table used for, and why is it a problem with Athlon laptops?

    1. Re:PST Table by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's a table baked in to the BIOS that describes the available power states for the CPU, so that it can do energy saving. Apparently the ones for the Athlon were somehow fucked up.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  6. Re: Doesn't this beg the question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You can bloody well go fuck yourself for trying to equate colorful language with racist speech.

  7. Re:"Fuck" is not professional by alvinrod · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You must be pretty damn sanctimonious to have never used "fuck" or any other language someone else might find objectionable in a professional setting. Maybe you have the benefit of only working with individuals just as or more competent than yourself, but there are some people who need to be told to stay the fuck away from something, or they will fuck it up and make a real fucking mess of things.

    Myself, I'd rather be told to "fuck off" if I need to be. If I think it's out of line, I'll let you know. If I think you're being an abusive asshole, I'll let you know that too. Otherwise I'd rather not sit through some milquetoast discussion where it feels like someone is trying to address a five year old child that shouldn't hear the bad words. Frankly, that's more dehumanizing than someone being pissed off.

  8. Equal Rights means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's a good idea to treat people with respect.

    But saying a piece of hardware fucked up some table is not attacking a person. We're going too far with the SJW speech-police. Sometimes it's necessary to make a point strongly.

    If you want equal rights, that means you don't get to demand special protections for your feelings. Equal means equal: you should be adult enough to accept that the real world has some level of swearing in it.

    This kind of thing is a cancer and will spread if it isn't carved out. Eventually we'll be more focused on policing speech than on technology. It will not end well.

    1. Re:Equal Rights means... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      But saying a piece of hardware fucked up some table is not attacking a person

      What happens if I identify as a piece of hardware? Didn't think about that did you.

    2. Re:Equal Rights means... by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What does this have to do with equality? This is about civility.

      There have been many professions that have achieved a practice of civility without sacrificing value. I see no reason why software development can't do the same.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  9. Bad rules are always open for interpretation by guruevi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That's why these kinds of exercises always end up in disaster. If your rule is any more complex than "Nobody shall prohibit anyone their natural rights to freedom of speech" it ALWAYS ends up being initially misinterpreted, and later abused by those in power.

    --
    Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
  10. Re:"Fuck" is not professional by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why do you assume that anyone who would say "stay the fuck away from my code" must be a male? Is it not possible for a female programmer to say that? Would that be toxic femininity?

    It's hard to keep track of all these bigoted memes the Left invents each day to signal how non-bigoted they are.

  11. I always wondered about that creepy guy by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 5, Funny

    in the town square with the cardboard sign that said Free Hugs.

    Shouldn't that be Libre Hugs?

  12. Re:"Fuck" is not professional by HornWumpus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Bullshit, we don't hate female coders, we hate having incompetent coders on our team.

    Good female coders also hate fixing incompetents shit, can and do cuss like sailors.

    How do you tell someone's sex over the internet anyhow? rChromosomeTest.exe?

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  13. Re:Left a job because of too much cussing everywhe by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you are so immature that other words can't fulfil your need to express displeasure about some work, I feel sorry for you, your friends, and your family.

    Would you say it to your 6 yr old daughter?

    Swearing is stupid, but Your deep seated need to control others speech patterns is silly.

    And no - I wouldn't say fuck or whatever word triggers you in front of a child, or my mother, or Jeebuz either. I have a magic ability to tailor my speech to the group I'm with.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  14. Will lead to losing the word "hug" in english by Baki · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Word police cannot change the way people think.

    The result will be that more and more people, when using "hug" in the normal way, will associate it with todays use of the f-word. So they will seek and find a replacement, use a synonym, when really wanting to express "hug".

    It is a pointless excercise, only making the language a bit poorer or distorted.