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by rdevilla 18 days ago
The only programming language I know of that is obsessed with trumpeting its own moral virtue. "Matz is nice so we are nice," "Ruby for good," dragging DHH, etc.

Meanwhile the Ruby Central and whytheluckystiff debacles show it to be anything but.
2 comments
jnovek 18 days ago
_why’s disappearance from the scene was 17 years ago at this point. I don’t think the Ruby community you’re talking about exists anymore.
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rhgraysonii 18 days ago
I wonder what he is up to. I have 2 _why inspired tattoos after he did so much to influence my entire philosophy and style of programming. What a unique character, who happened to pop up at a very formative time for me. Thanks for all the nice stuff and ideas, _why.
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the_gastropod 18 days ago
That question pops into my mind from time to time, too. Hope he's well, and I hope he knows the lasting positive impact he had on so many people.

I weirdly got my first programming job / made a good friend because of him (he tweeted about wishing he could adopt @person. I looked up @person, saw they lived in my city, worked at a company that was hiring. I DM'd @person, and eventually got the job!" Thanks ~2008 _why!

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the_gastropod 18 days ago
Dude, what? Is it the MINASWAN acronym that's the problem or? If that's "trumpeting moral virtue", I can think of lots of programming languages that trumpet their moral virtue:

Let's check out the Rust Code of Conduct (https://rust-lang.org/policies/code-of-conduct/):

"Please be kind and courteous. There’s no need to be mean or rude."

"We are committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of level of experience, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, personal appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, or other similar characteristic."

Seems pretty morally virtuous, no?

How 'bout Gleam... Right on their home page (https://gleam.run):

"As a community, we want to be friendly too. People from around the world, of all backgrounds, genders, and experience levels are welcome and respected equally. See our community code of conduct for more.

Black lives matter. Trans rights are human rights. No nazi bullsh*t."

Seems morally virtuous, too!

Also also: what does the "whytheluckystiff debacle" have to do with any of this?! Also also also: _why was pretty much the first prominent "dragger" of dhh. Man was an innovator.

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okeuro49 18 days ago
The CoC reminds me a lot of this quote by Sowell:

"...if the answer to the problem is that people should just be virtuous, then there is no problem, because we have known that for thousands of years."

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