[Amorymeltzer]

I really suggest looking at the reply: <https://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/2401.3/04254.html>

I know nothing about what they're talking, but the response appears reasonable and mature, seems to engage in the substantive issues without responding to the anger/flaming, and looks like it intends to de-escalate and move forward. Torvalds' reply to that is more measured <https://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/2401.3/04260.html>.

There's a step back in tone a few replies later, but if you go through the next dozen or two messages over the next couple of days, it seems like things go a totally different path than might be expected from the linked submission.

Anyway, I thought it was worth a perusal. Good example of how to respond to something like that.

[ofcourseyoudo]

completely agree, when you look at the full thread, no one even blinks an eye at his rant. They just proceed forward, and when they do so, Linus responds pretty normally (until his next condescending rant).

Seems like people in this group have pretty much gotten used to him being a condescending ass every dozen messages, filter out the posturing, take his genuine suggestion, and work from there.

It doesn't seem to bother them (or they are expending emotional energy not responding to it, a likely bit of collateral damage, but they are still communicating in a pretty professional way besides his tantrums).

[mickleby]

I don't share your perspective. How do you suggest to discourage underinformed unskilled contribution? It seems to me taking your approach will divert all time and all resources to irrelevant tasks, tasks not pushing code forward.

[riku_iki]

> but the response appears reasonable and mature

I wouldn't say saying "If I knew ... was going to piss you off so much, I wouldn't have done that." is very mature.

[solarkraft]

Why? It signals that they respect Linus's feelings (and they really don't want to piss him off), which seems quite mature and de-escalative to me.

[riku_iki]

language is confrontational and impersonal.

[tommica]

Curious, what kind of response in your opinion would have been better?

[riku_iki]

you can rewrite the same phrase in more polite language: "sorry, I didn't expect so much push back, I sent these changes with good intentions only".