linux-kernel - Re: [Ksummit-2013-discuss] [ATTEND] How to act on LKML (was: [ 00/19] 3.10.1-stable review)

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Date:	Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:43:57 -0700
From:	Sarah Sharp <sarah.a.sharp@...ux.intel.com>
To:	Theodore Ts'o <tytso@....edu>
Cc:	Olivier Galibert <galibert@...ox.com>, David Lang <david@...g.hm>,
	ksummit-2013-discuss@...ts.linuxfoundation.org,
	Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
	Darren Hart <dvhart@...ux.intel.com>,
	Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	Willy Tarreau <w@....eu>, stable <stable@...r.kernel.org>,
	Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Ingo Molnar <mingo@...nel.org>
Subject: Re: [Ksummit-2013-discuss] [ATTEND] How to act on LKML (was: [
 00/19] 3.10.1-stable review)

On Tue, Jul 16, 2013 at 05:27:04PM -0400, Theodore Ts'o wrote:
> On Tue, Jul 16, 2013 at 02:12:35PM -0700, Sarah Sharp wrote:
> > "Your code is crap" is considered unprofessional, while
> > > "Let's leverage my fifth grade nephew's capabilities to assist you in
> > > fixing the code" is perfectly professional, somehow.  That's more
> > > often than not an unacceptable attitude in europe.
> > 
> > I *hate* both direct personal insults and indirect personal insults.
> > Neither should be acceptable in our community.
> 
> What is a "direct personal insult" can be in the eye of the beholder.
> Personally, I don't consider "your code is crap" as a personal insult.
> "You are an incompetent programmer for producing this crap" would be a
> personal attack.
> 
> Similarly, there is a difference between "That was an idiotic idea"
> and "You are an idiot".
> 
> Now, there are certainly more {diplomatic, politically correct,
> choose-your-own-favorite-adjective} ways wording the description of a
> particularly bad idea or piece of code.  But is that a "personal
> attack"?

I don't think we disagree on this, Ted.  I've stated that I view
personal attacks and insults negatively, and I don't see an issue with
pointing out that code is bad.  I think you're agreeing with me on this.

> Keep in mind that there are some cultures where even pointing out a
> technical flaw in code might considered bringing deep shame on the
> engineer and their company.  So how sensitive people are to criticism
> during an electronic exchange is always going to be highly culutrally
> and personally variable.

Yes, that's true.  Some kernel developers are better at moderating their
comments and tone towards individuals who are "sensitive".  Others
simply don't give a shit.  So we need to figure out how to meet
somewhere in the middle, in order to establish a baseline of civility.

Sarah Sharp
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