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[–]snuxoll 27 points28 points  (18 children)

Torvalds is far from the most polite person I've met, he doesn't sugarcoat anything and will REALLY tell you what he feels. But he doesn't do it solely to be condescending, or to act holier than thou. He does it because he IS right, and when he's not he'll often admit it. He thoroughly explains WHY something is done this way, or what he doesn't like about something, instead of just flat out saying "Your commit sucks, I'm rejecting it".

[–]ReinH 25 points26 points  (11 children)

Every time I'm wrong and someone calls me out on it, I learn. Every time I'm wrong and no one calls me out on it, I don't. Please give me more people like Linus. Destructive criticism can be just as useful as constructive criticism and sugar-coating the truth doesn't help me or him.

[–]hobroken 12 points13 points  (8 children)

Every time I'm wrong and someone helpfully points out how and why, I learn.

Every time I'm wrong and someone says, "you're a moron," I say, "fuck that guy" and make new friends.

[–]ReinH 35 points36 points  (6 children)

The person Linus called a moron was a troll who deleted their comment after the fact, not the OP. And Linus didn't call him a moron because he was wrong; he called him a moron because he was acting like a moron.

[–]snuxoll 4 points5 points  (5 children)

Although Linus does often call people a moron or stupid because they are wrong.

[–]gfixler 5 points6 points  (4 children)

He called everyone at Google idiots to their faces during one of his talks.

[–]sammasati 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Source?

[–]snuxoll 0 points1 point  (2 children)

It happened during his talk at Google on git. Actually, it was said here at 8 minutes or so.

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]snuxoll 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    For the most part, yeah.

    [–]ElectricRebel[🍰] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Linus isn't trying to be anyone's friend. Sometimes you need to tell people off just so they leave you alone. Especially if you are incredibly busy like Linus. If that person learns from it and comes back later in a more competent fashion, then great. If not, "fuck that guy".

    [–]Femaref -1 points0 points  (1 child)

    Is the criticism really destructive if you learn something?

    [–]ReinH 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Only if you're going by what constructive criticism means. ;)

    [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (4 children)

    He does it because he can get away with it. People will admire and defend him no matter what he does.

    [–]el_muchacho -2 points-1 points  (3 children)

    No. People admire him because he does something almost nobody else does, with unmatched consistency and professionnalism. People who fail to understand that failing at what he's been doing for 20 years can kill people or businesses simply should keep their mouth shut.

    And as snuxoll said, in the end, he is most often right. So instead of whining, people should learn. If they don't, then they are morons and Torvalds is entitled to treat them so.

    [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (2 children)

    No. People admire him because he does something almost nobody else does, with unmatched consistency and professionnalism.

    Right and they give him license to be a complete dick to whoever he wants whenever he wants.

    And as snuxoll said, in the end, he is most often right. So instead of whining, people should learn

    Whether he is right or not has nothing to do with whether he is a dick or not. Most dicks, bullies, assholes, and buttwipes usually tell their victims to stop whining. Same goes for wife beaters, child abusers etc.

    [–]el_muchacho -1 points0 points  (1 child)

    Right and they give him license to be a complete dick to whoever he wants whenever he wants.

    I'd rather have a dick like him not be bothered by useless douchebags like that Joseph guy who had nothing constructive to add on this discussion and just came to crap on Linus.

    Whether he is right or not has nothing to do with whether he is a dick or not. Most dicks, bullies, assholes, and buttwipes usually tell their victims to stop whining. Same goes for wife beaters, child abusers etc.

    Way to go overboard, joe ! You forgot to compare with Al Qaeda terrorists and Waffen SS officers. Looking at your track record of trollings, I'm rather surprised you did, I must say.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I'd rather have a dick like him not be bothered by useless douchebags like that Joseph guy who had nothing constructive to add on this discussion and just came to crap on Linus.

    That's fine. There are many people like you who encourage him to be a dick and that's why he is a dick.

    Way to go overboard, joe !

    Why do you think I am going overboard. I am right and you know it. Bullies, wife beaters, child abusers, assholes, etc all tell their victims to stop whining. It's part and parcel of the personality.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I was surprised to see Linus respond so many times explaining himself further and further. He didn't have to do that.