So, what exactly is wrong with UK having only 1/3 native brits?
I’m Asian, I don’t get why the West is so concerned. If half of my country are expats immigrating, hell yeah. I don’t see the problem as long as everyone is contributing for the overall community and welfare of the country.
I’m surprised DHH made the blog post on the hey.com domain, since it’s also the domain of their email service.
If I was a customer I would be canceling my service because I really don’t want my emails to be associated with any type of controversial topic. Why doesn’t he post it under his own domain, rather than a company one?
I’ve used Basecamp in the past, and actually considered signing up for hey.com. Good thing I didn’t waste my money on it. Would be such a pain to have to switch my email address.
Hey can be used as a blogging platform (https://www.hey.com/world/), that would be the equivalent of deleting your GitHub account because someone published a controversial project.
DHH has great instincts when it comes to programming and technical projects, but he is not a very smart guy about anything else. Further, he is a bit of a low class buffoon. So just use his stuff and ignore whatever else he rants about on his own time and property, this is the only way to get by in life. You couldn't read a book, watch a movie, or enjoy any music, if you constantly had to vet the authors against your own political views.
Totally agree, you can respect the quality of someone’s work without needing to buy into everything they say or do outside of it. I also don’t get where this purity test comes from, but it’s definitely not a good thing.
In this case it's hard to separate the art from the artist. DHH wields significant power in the community and industry. Shopify is likely to back him and they are a major ruby / rails sponsor. He also has immense influence.
We all have been tricked to be sick of "social justice" as it has been purposefully exploited to exhaustion until no one cares any more.
This is the same method and rhetoric applied through history.
No one measures how far megariches are getting from common folks and just point the guns where they can see because they are led through mediatic misformation campaigns.
It does not need to be a convoluted plan, but it is an opportunity where those same ones are using to sell their guns (oops I mean AI).
You all be killing each other very soon because you are believing in such campaigns for creating "the enemy".
There is no "enemy" who is worried if they'll be able to feed their kids tomorrow.
You are being manipulated.
I don't know why I'm surprised, but this blog does link to DHH actually complaining about the present-day ethnic makeup of London ("demographic nightmare") and contrasting it with Copenhagen. London is apparently too brown for DHH and he is clearly saying that you can't be a native Brit if you're not white. Repugnant and willfully idiotic.
As a non-white British person i have no problem with native meaning certain ethnicities - after all, no one would call a white American a native American.
What is very, very troubling is his idea that London of all places should be an ethnically white city. London has been multi-ethnic since the 70s or 80s, if not earlier. It is very much a world city.
The other thing is that he is Danish and seems to be projecting his feelings about Denmark onto Britain. He does not really understand how British people feel. The organiser of the march he praises is such as toxic figure for his blatant bigotry that the Reform Party (the most right wing party that has seats in Parliament) turned down a $100m donation from Elon Musk rather than allow him to join the party. e ethnic makeup does not bother any white Londoners I know (I grew up in London, so I do know a lot of people there). In fact, the only person I can recall complaining about it in real life was also foreign European.
The march was not actually that big. There have been many larger protests in London. From protests against the Iraq war (about five times the turnout), against the ban on huntings with dogs (nearly three times as many) and both pro and anti Brexit. It was by far the largest the far right has been able to organise, but they only managed that by labelling it a march for free speech (I do think there is a genuine problem with free speech in the UK, and I wish we had the sort of protections the US does).
This is disappointing from DHH. He tends to carry a lot of criticism online, and based on my exposure to his ideas in long form media, I tend to agree with him more than not. However, in his linked post on this issue, it strikes me as being written by someone whose understanding is largely based emotions evoked by provocative news headlines. But, I'm going to refrain from attempting to psychoanalyse an individual who I know very little about (further than the previous sentence).
OP's post, I think, correctly points out that DHH appears to believe that British == White. Wish he'd be clear on this point, as he's often claimed and indeed has been in the past regarding other issues. Dancing around it shows a lack of respect for the audience and/or a sign of weak conviction.
If you believe in something strongly enough to want to have an impact on its discourse, why not be clear about it? Here's an example of a clear statement regarding this particular issue: "I believe that our country ought to aim for demographics where 80% of the people on our streets look like us [whatever that happens to be]". What's so difficult about that? A clear demand/objective easier to vote on/measure/debate....everyone knows that, then why do the proponents of such ideas always dance around being specific?
It’s 2025 and it’s concerning that we are still trying to cancel and silence people for opining.
People have a right to voice unpopular opinions. And programming communities have to stop pretending like they are some self-righteous above-everyone morally-superior folks.
It’s incredibly lazy as well to label someone as racist, whatever-ist by quoting what they say as if a quote can encapsulate a person’s whole life and meaning.
What DHH says is actually the majority opinion of the world. I am an immigrant and do not find his thoughts controversial. I might disagree on some points but it is rather dismissive and tone deaf to ignore a majority opinion and silence it as if the programming enclaves of $100k compensated individuals somehow are superior to or worse, represent the majority population who may not have the same opportunities and thinking patterns.
It’s also tiring to see these write ups to portray to the world how good and liberal you are and to show which party one is aligned with (your tent is getting smaller even though you originally thought it included everyone) - groupthink masquerading as original free thought. I am actually not (no longer) part of your tent as I find it repulsive and lazy.
Programmers should program and not limit programming communities from people they somehow think are morally inferior.
Just realize that you are just as shitty as the person you think you are superior too.
I don’t really understand the authors point of view. If I moved to Japan and got citizenship, I’d know full well I’m not Japanese and never will be. I’d behave like a guest for the rest of my life (though obviously be grateful for any kindness the locals show me).
I certainly would not make posts about how the locals are the real problem and they’re evil for not accommodating me.
It’s also odd the article is trying to paint Tommy Robinson as “far right”. He’s deeply in bed with the Israelis, who last I checked don’t get along with the “far right”. He’s pushing anti Muslim sentiment to garner support for the genocide in Gaza.
> I’d behave like a guest [If I moved to Japan and got citizenship] for the rest of my life
Why would you want to be a guest in your own country for the rest of your life?
> I certainly would not make posts about how the locals are the real problem
That's not what the post said.
> they’re evil for not accommodating me.
What does "accommodating" mean? From what I can tell they just want to not be treated like a guest in their own country. Not a crazy request.
Taking citizenship in another country is comparable to being a new convert to a religion. Is it acceptable for people born and raised in the faith to treat new converts differently?
This post was written by an individual, not “Libre Open Source”. It seems fair and within “the spirit of complete freedom of speech” for one individual to criticize another.
It also seems reasonable for one person to question another’s leadership position given their expressed views.
if a framework has a BDFL, and that BDFL starts getting increasingly political in a polarizing way, then surely it's fair for the community to respond to that.
What on Earth does that even mean? "Freedom of speech" only extends to thinly veiled racism, but not criticism of the thinly veiled racism? I'm sorry, but what?
lawgimenez|5 months ago
I’m Asian, I don’t get why the West is so concerned. If half of my country are expats immigrating, hell yeah. I don’t see the problem as long as everyone is contributing for the overall community and welfare of the country.
motbus3|5 months ago
tw_wankette|5 months ago
Natives have rights to their homeland.
throw5t4323rt|5 months ago
If I was a customer I would be canceling my service because I really don’t want my emails to be associated with any type of controversial topic. Why doesn’t he post it under his own domain, rather than a company one?
I’ve used Basecamp in the past, and actually considered signing up for hey.com. Good thing I didn’t waste my money on it. Would be such a pain to have to switch my email address.
ricardobeat|5 months ago
akagusu|5 months ago
tietjens|5 months ago
toughquestion|5 months ago
[deleted]
blackbell|5 months ago
[deleted]
rubzah|5 months ago
edu|5 months ago
eowyn|5 months ago
motbus3|5 months ago
No one measures how far megariches are getting from common folks and just point the guns where they can see because they are led through mediatic misformation campaigns.
It does not need to be a convoluted plan, but it is an opportunity where those same ones are using to sell their guns (oops I mean AI).
You all be killing each other very soon because you are believing in such campaigns for creating "the enemy".
There is no "enemy" who is worried if they'll be able to feed their kids tomorrow. You are being manipulated.
Once more. You are being manipulated. Wake up.
nh23423fefe|5 months ago
phoobahr|5 months ago
Fire-Dragon-DoL|5 months ago
He is making software available for free. Feel FREE not to use it.
oliwarner|5 months ago
It's okay to care about the health of the community. To worry about the voices promoted.
tietjens|5 months ago
graemep|5 months ago
What is very, very troubling is his idea that London of all places should be an ethnically white city. London has been multi-ethnic since the 70s or 80s, if not earlier. It is very much a world city.
The other thing is that he is Danish and seems to be projecting his feelings about Denmark onto Britain. He does not really understand how British people feel. The organiser of the march he praises is such as toxic figure for his blatant bigotry that the Reform Party (the most right wing party that has seats in Parliament) turned down a $100m donation from Elon Musk rather than allow him to join the party. e ethnic makeup does not bother any white Londoners I know (I grew up in London, so I do know a lot of people there). In fact, the only person I can recall complaining about it in real life was also foreign European.
The march was not actually that big. There have been many larger protests in London. From protests against the Iraq war (about five times the turnout), against the ban on huntings with dogs (nearly three times as many) and both pro and anti Brexit. It was by far the largest the far right has been able to organise, but they only managed that by labelling it a march for free speech (I do think there is a genuine problem with free speech in the UK, and I wish we had the sort of protections the US does).
whatarethembits|5 months ago
OP's post, I think, correctly points out that DHH appears to believe that British == White. Wish he'd be clear on this point, as he's often claimed and indeed has been in the past regarding other issues. Dancing around it shows a lack of respect for the audience and/or a sign of weak conviction.
If you believe in something strongly enough to want to have an impact on its discourse, why not be clear about it? Here's an example of a clear statement regarding this particular issue: "I believe that our country ought to aim for demographics where 80% of the people on our streets look like us [whatever that happens to be]". What's so difficult about that? A clear demand/objective easier to vote on/measure/debate....everyone knows that, then why do the proponents of such ideas always dance around being specific?
onetimepass3|5 months ago
People have a right to voice unpopular opinions. And programming communities have to stop pretending like they are some self-righteous above-everyone morally-superior folks.
It’s incredibly lazy as well to label someone as racist, whatever-ist by quoting what they say as if a quote can encapsulate a person’s whole life and meaning.
What DHH says is actually the majority opinion of the world. I am an immigrant and do not find his thoughts controversial. I might disagree on some points but it is rather dismissive and tone deaf to ignore a majority opinion and silence it as if the programming enclaves of $100k compensated individuals somehow are superior to or worse, represent the majority population who may not have the same opportunities and thinking patterns.
It’s also tiring to see these write ups to portray to the world how good and liberal you are and to show which party one is aligned with (your tent is getting smaller even though you originally thought it included everyone) - groupthink masquerading as original free thought. I am actually not (no longer) part of your tent as I find it repulsive and lazy.
Programmers should program and not limit programming communities from people they somehow think are morally inferior.
Just realize that you are just as shitty as the person you think you are superior too.
It’s all code at the end of the day.
unknown|5 months ago
[deleted]
jajahabav|5 months ago
I certainly would not make posts about how the locals are the real problem and they’re evil for not accommodating me.
It’s also odd the article is trying to paint Tommy Robinson as “far right”. He’s deeply in bed with the Israelis, who last I checked don’t get along with the “far right”. He’s pushing anti Muslim sentiment to garner support for the genocide in Gaza.
triceratops|5 months ago
Why would you want to be a guest in your own country for the rest of your life?
> I certainly would not make posts about how the locals are the real problem
That's not what the post said.
> they’re evil for not accommodating me.
What does "accommodating" mean? From what I can tell they just want to not be treated like a guest in their own country. Not a crazy request.
Taking citizenship in another country is comparable to being a new convert to a religion. Is it acceptable for people born and raised in the faith to treat new converts differently?
unknown|5 months ago
[deleted]
unixhero|5 months ago
skavi|5 months ago
It also seems reasonable for one person to question another’s leadership position given their expressed views.
tao_oat|5 months ago
nixosbestos|5 months ago