Originally posted by Delgarde
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Reading those same threads you read, I got a completely different sense: I saw the VDG trying to push some simple changes that for the most part require no changes on the technical side of things, and I saw some (?) developers fiercely pushing back with what amounts to them declaring that they don't agree with those choices and thus don't want to implement them, period. As an example, how is changing the default from "Normal Borders" to "No Borders" (the T8707 discussion) difficult to implement? And why should a developer try to veto this, a simple design decision which obviously falls out of his/her "jurisdiction"?
And the really fun part is that it *doesn't* fall out of *anyone's* jurisdiction! This is FOSS, not some monolithic corporation with distinctly separate roles for its employees. Martin could have joined the VDG's channel if he so wished and discuss the matter there, or maybe even join the VDG itself. But no, he wanted nothing to do with Telegram (even though the VDG's channel is stated to be on IRC, with a Telegram bridge implemented because it's probably more convenient) and, let's not forget, he also stated clearly in his farewell email that one of the reasons he is stepping down as maintainer is that he has grown tired of having to discuss his opinions and explain to other people why he says "no" on a particular something. Well, being myself a person with... strong... opinions I can perfectly understand him being tired of constantly having to state what he obviously believes is the obvious, but this kind of attitude is really not healthy for a community of people who don't even know each other personally, and so have to rely on communication skills (a.k.a. diplomacy) to get anything going anywhere.
I have to say here that I'm a huge fan of Martin's work over the years. And I also have to say that I'm no fan of the PR-speak that some people over at the VDG seem to have taken a liking to - I find it irritating as hell. But between gag-worthy yet well-meaning PR-speaking people with a clear intent on getting along with others and reaching common ground, and seemingly arrogant and/or stubborn people who for whatever reason have decided that they are the be-all-end-all of a project and have resorted to simply vetoing things just because, I vastly prefer the former.
P.S. - Please take this with a grain of salt as I'm in no way involved with KDE, so I don't know the behind-the-cameras background of all this stuff. And I'm fully aware that this situation could easily be the result not of stubbornness or arrogance, but of animosity accumulated over the years due to past (maybe even personal) disagreements...
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