Context: X11Libre is a fork of X11 aiming at preserving the X Server (fair enough, right?). One of the creators got permanently banned from freedesktop.org for apparently violating the Code of Conduct (no info on that, they just blame Red Hat), see themselves as hunted by both Big Tech and “toxic elements” who “took over the X11 project” They want to “make X great again”.
The issue about their highly political README (which they wrote due to the original project “becoming too political”, lol) also contains the usual red flags like transphobia. https://github.com/X11Libre/xserver/issues/40
I miss the days when the OS community found -often painful- ways to deal with excentric or even toxic and erratic developers. That definitely had more class than conformist mobs celebrating each character assassination of somebody disagreeing. Not that I’d support any anti-vax bullshit or bigotry, I just dislike mobs of holier-than-thous. Because they aren’t holy or as “good” as they think they are. IMO they’re just the sort of people waiting for a reason to get their torches and pitchforks. I don’t think that’s any better, morally, or less intolerant than having unhinged opinions.
“No, go away.”
That’s a perfectly valid way to deal with toxic contributors. There’s always people with better social skills and equal developer skills out there, you don’t have to accept and include toxic people just because they wrote some code.
Just alienate them more and they will get better on their own… Right?
I think the guy you’re responding to is saying that communication and not alienation is how we bring these people out of whatever holes they’ve dug themselves into.
I know hes getting downvoted a ton, but if my take on what he wrote is correct then I also agree with him.
The reason the world is so divided right now is because nobody wants to talk through things with open minds and with empathy.
Your last sentence is somewhat naive. It can often place the onus on the wrong group. People don’t want to engage with the XLibre dude with open minds and empathy any more because back when they did, he didn’t engage with an open mind or empathy. You can only do that for so long before you have to isolate and protect. Quarantine, deplatforming, and isolation works when someone refuses to engage. At some point you have to be intolerant of intolerance if you want to get anything done.
Scope some literature on deradicalization. There is only so much empathy you can give someone who thinks an entire group of people don’t deserve to be human and, more importantly, there has to be a cutoff when you’re not getting empathy back. You’re right, empathy and an attempt to understand is important. Don’t forget many people in marginalized or attacked groups have to defend their existence every single fucking day so sometimes their empathy is pretty drained.
You can’t engage such people in good faith, and it’s impossible to convince them to adopt a different viewpoint. People much smarter than you have tried and failed.
I don’t doubt it… but there has to be some way to pull people back from the hole they’ve dug themselves into. Straight up ignoring them seems counterproductive, but you’re right… I’m not an expert and im sure people have tried
It just feels sad and frustrating to me as well. This guy obviously seems to have some talent but got sucked into something that overshadows his talent with just plain idiocy on things he doesn’t know anything about it seems like…
Really sad times
Edit: just read the article you sent. This was particularly in the case of sending out messaging where people can’t have a discussion back with you.
The thing is, that there must be some corner from which you can start arguing. Rightwing ideology is in itself a relatively complete world image, where everything that does not fit into their world is a lie. If someone is willing to actually listen to you, discuss in a civilised manner and tries to understand what your point is, than you can have long and exhausting discussions slowly but steadily deconstructing the persons world view.
However, if the discussions consists of “this is woke and a lie” and they are not willing to listen to you, than theres nothing you can do for them. Trist me, my parents are conspiracy theorists and I gave up in them. I Am willing to start arguing with them, if they are ever willing to come back into society, but for now their whole social group consists of conspiracy theorists and they are not willing to understand how science works, so any discussion is pointless.
You’re not calling out anyone here. That has happened elsewhere. You’re nothing but gossiping about it. You’re not the defenders of anything but spiteful, ugly people.