Re: [ATTEND] How to act on LKML

Jiri Kosina
2013-07-16T22:54:35Z

On Tue, 16 Jul 2013, Stefano Stabellini wrote:

> > > I think that it's hurting Linux and in particular it's hurting
> > > attracting new talents.
> >
> > Then why do we have the largest # of developers than any other Open
> > Source project?
>
> Because Linux is the most widely used kernel, it's everywhere from
> embedded devices to supercomputers.

And that's because ... ?

Yes, because the community has been very open since its very beginning
(and this is not "being open about why I hate you personally", but this is
"being open about what I think about your code").

Plus there is a *LOT* of humor and sarcasm in all that. Which just
contributes to working on linux kernel being fun. I'd absolutely like to
keep that spirit.

If you guys now start telling others what is allowed and what is forbidden
to say, you are going to destroy this completely.

I don't want to be a part of a community where you have to read a legal
code before you can speak without fear of being accused of verbal
violence.

This just doesn't fit into how people of my culture see the world; hence,
I may even feel offended by Sarah's proposal (i.e. being very restrictive
about what I am allowed to say), actually. I like openness, I like
sarcasm, I like fun. Anyone who is trying to forbid this just doesn't fit
into my culture.

> > Honestly, I think LKML over the years has become more tame. Yeah, back
> > in 2005 it was rather harsh, but I don't really see that anymore. I
> > don't see the nasty flame wars going on. Everything seems to be focused
> > more on the technical side, and there's really very little personal
> > attacks out there. Sure, with 15,000 emails a month, you get a few. And
> > Linus will get fed up and burst. But they are really few and far
> > between. And sometimes, a Linus burst gets things moving along much
> > faster than being "professional". You think ARM would have gotten their
> > act together as quick as they did if Linus didn't curse them out and
> > threaten to stop pulling their crap?
>
> I think there is a way to get the point across without cursing.

Maybe there is, maybe there is not.

I am not cursing in my e-mails, you are probably neither. Linus is. Others
are.

So what? He/they believe they achieves their goal through that mode of
operation (and very often they indeed do), as so do we, through different
means of communication.

No need to change anything anywhere. Please let everyone express their
feelings the way the believe it's best for achieving their goals, and do
the same.

--
Jiri Kosina
SUSE Labs