[batat]

People who are against bullying of Richard Stallman exists too! And there are lot of them - quiet developers, incapable of social interaction. We are not reading Twitter 24/7, we are not speakers nor evangelists. We write commit messages, not tweets. We are doing things, not loud manifestos.

And all powers currently is seized by a loud crowd who believe that person should be judged by his words, not his deeds. They believe that "enough words, show me the code" is a meritocracy.

If you fear that your signature in RMS Support letter open letter may have negative consequences for your career, then just write some support words to [e-mail] and [e-mail], this is fine too!

[soganess]

How bout a person be judged by both their words and their deeds?

Also, this quasi-poetic, we-we-we, silent-majority, US vs THEM, argument comes off as "all developers must support RMS" saber-rattling.

I don't have a twitter (or any social media) and I've been a software engineer long enough that I worry about ageism. I definitely think RMS has been using his celebrity to avoid dealing with a bunch of unchecked personal demons. I also think MM relationship with JE was highly suspect.

All that said, kicking RMS out the FSF was organized publicity move because someone sensed a chink in the armor, not because they cared about MM accusers.

[batat]

Yes, silent-majority, exactly.

Because we (or this is me only?) were taught that expressing point of view which differs from current "course of the party", while may not be a subject of criminal prosecution (therefore, your freedom of speech is not formally violated), but leads to "deplatforming", you may lose your contracts, your job etc. "Cancel culture" instructs us that instant breakdown of all relations is normal, and many of those who break off relations with you do this not because they disagree with your point of view, but "just in case" to avoid consequences for themself.

Brendan Eich? Eric Steven Raymond? Media personalities like Johnny Depp, Joanne Rowling, James Gunn... All these people didn't break the law, they are not criminals, but they suffered for saying something. This is not "normal"! These cases are well-known and people will now may think twice before saying a word in defense of RMS because they are afraid! This is where "spiral of silence" comes from.

[guipsp]

No one is bullying RMS, they are holding him accountable for his behavior.

>And all powers currently is seized by a loud crowd who believe that person should be judged by his words, not his deeds.

His deeds actually make people (specially woman) feel unsafe in the community.

[advicealligator]

> His deeds actually make people (specially woman) feel unsafe in the community.

How is that his problem and not theirs?

[Bancakes]

Can you give me a list of such women?

[mavhc]

1. Given code is words, words and deeds would be the same thing

2. Someone who's good at code might be terrible at being a public figure, or indeed a human being other people would want to be around