[klyrs]

I've reviewed code that bad, and even muttered invectives about stupidity under my breath, but never let my bewilderment turn into a vicious attack. When I encounter code that's as awful as all that, I ask questions. Do you know of (blank) alternative, did you test this code, are you aware of this consequence. Then, I make a pronouncement; this code is not up to standard and I won't accept it unless the above are fixed, or if it's utterly incomprehensible, I'll say that I cannot see a path forward. Bottom line, the code is defective, there's no reason to make it personal.

If Linus was viewed as less than a god, I think more people in our community would recognize this sort of tirade as ad hominem and they would be ridiculed as such.

[guenthert]

Ah, c'mon. Nobody views Mr. Torvalds as god. He's just an extraordinarily competent, productive, persevering and outspoken engineer, who manages to motivate others to contribute to the projects he started. He sadly is or was also a bit insensitive, but he clearly wasn't alone in that, nor the worst. Remember that Alan Cox, when describing the difference between him and Mr. Torvalds, considered him 'neat'.

[klyrs]

> Nobody views Mr. Torvalds as god.

You might want to google "Linux Torvalds god" and reconsider that. The word "god" is being used hyperbolically, nobody thinks he's responsible for Creation, but the meme wouldn't stick if it didn't resonate with folks.