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Comment by dos1 | Hacker News Reader

Oh sure, I've made plenty of stupid comments, but that's not what these guys did.

They picked a repo on Github that they thought was duplicating functionality in Unix (oh the horror!) and engaged in classic schoolyard bullying. Publicly shaming the code and the author, apparently to make themselves feel better and show the world how smart they were. And at the end of it, the apologies they issued after the internet turned against them were poor.

So yes, I do occasionally say dumb things, but I'm never a bully. If I say something mean it's because it was provoked. And if I need to apologize for something, I do it with real contrition.

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I can comfortably say, based on more than a few arguments and discussions, that Steve Klabnik is not a bully. This situation sucked all around for a lot of reasons, but "that's it, this guy is an asshole end of store" is a poor reaction to it.

If you want to judge a person with any degree of finality by one isolated incident that you barely were involved in, that's your prerogative. I think that speaks more about you than it does the person. Hopefully you'll give me some evidence that changes my mind, I'm at least still open to that.

How can you begrudge me my opinion when the only facts I have corroborate it?

http://blog.steveklabnik.com/posts/2010-09-24-trolling-is-a-...

This post was from 2010 where he admits he's a jerk and can't help it. I think that pretty clearly is a victory for my thesis.

...did you link to the right post? The one I'm reading says he is aware that he is capable of this kind of behavior and has taken steps to mitigate it. If anything it hurts your I'm-right-in-declaring-this-guy-an-irredeemable-asshole thesis.

Dude, I don't know what to say to you. You're going to argue for the sake of it, even though you're objectively wrong. Maybe you can shed some light on why people do that?

The man HIMSELF admits he is intrinsically an asshole, and that even when he uses his real identity he can't help himself. Yes, he's trying to be better. But an alcoholic trying to fight the bottle is still an alcoholic.

In 2010 he said he had arsehole like tendencies. That's some time ago, I think it's a stretch to say that it makes him one. I've agreed with you right up to this point!

Well, he engaged in 'arsehole like tendencies' two days ago. When an alcoholic is on the wagon for a long time and then falls off again, they're still an alcoholic.

Comparing an alcoholic to an arsehole is absurd. An alcoholic can never touch a drop of alcohol for fear of getting addicted to it again. Someone can be an arsehole some of the time, and very nice the rest of the time!

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