On being welcoming

[Christopher Allan Webber]

Niels Möller writes:

> Mike Mohr <akihana at gmail.com> writes:
>
>> I am a software engineer who works in Silicon Valley, and I cannot
>> imagine working with someone who is frequently abrasive and disparaging.
>> Such an individual would not last very long on my team.
>
> I think it's a grand mistake to compare the social workings of a spare
> time project with the relations within a professional development team.
> In silicon valley or elsewhere.
>
> I can only speak for myself, but I have pretty limited hacking time for
> my spare-time projects. And when I get some quality time when I'm at my
> best, and able to de some real hacking, I prefer doing the hacking.
>
> Which means that responding on mailing lists is more often than not done
> when I'm tired and likely to be more grumpy and less alert than usual.

This is the last reply I will give on this thread, but I think that it's
important.

One of the issues is that emails which are rude or impolite can really
drain participants.  And of course, not just one person, but many people
on a list can really be drained by reading these kinds of things.  Some
people might be afraid to join.

I know when there's a really negative exchange, it takes it out of me.
And that means it reduces my time I'm able to spend hacking and doing
positive contributions that I would like to.

So yes, let's all recognize our limited time and abilities to
participate.  One way we can be especially respectful and do a good job
of showing such recognition is to be careful to be nice to each other on
lists.

The net effect of "spare time productivity" will likely be higher,
because people will lose less energy to feeling drained by negative
exchanges.

So, in the long run, I do think it's worth that extra time to be
thoughtful... not being rude does not take very much extra energy,
and in the long run, leads to higher productive energy!

 - Chris