This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Python Buzz by Jarno Virtanen. Original Post: Decent behavior in technical communities Feed Title: Python owns us Feed URL: http://sedoparking.com/search/registrar.php?domain=®istrar=sedopark Feed Description: A weblog about Python from the view point of Jarno Virtanen. Latest Python Buzz Posts Latest Python Buzz Posts by Jarno Virtanen Latest Posts From Python owns us

I stumbled on Lasu's home page on a quote about communities on which he stumbled somewhere. A quote which is attributed to Chip Salzenberg and goes like this:

My experience in the Perl community has taught me that tolerating or even celebrating buttheads who happen to be technically prolific is, in the end, very costly. It creates a skin-thickness requirement. Some who might have contributed leave rather than putting up with verbal abuse. A once-friendly community is be sacrificed on the altar of technical advancement... ironically, to the eventual detriment of both.

I have written about decent behavior before in the context of a talk named Geek Culture Considered Harmful. I still agree with myself and Andy, and Chip. (Note too Colin McCormack's response to Chip and Chip's response to that.)