On Thu, 2019-10-24 at 08:09 -0400, Stephen Gallagher wrote:
There's a very large difference between feedback like "I
think the
user experience is suboptimal here, for this reason" and "I don't
like the entire design, you should scrap it and start over".
In the first case, it's possible to incorporate that into an existing
project if the benefits justify the investment. In the latter case,
it requires a *substantial* reinvestment in work while simultaneously
demoralizing and disrespecting the people who have been working on
it. It's a fundamental difference between constructive and
destructive criticism.
It's possible to respectfully suggest that an entirely different design
is worth considering. I believe that my messages have been respectful.
If you think I have not been respectful, please let me know.
I agree that the suggestion can be demoralizing, and I hope you know me
well enough to know that I am not trying to demoralize anyone. I don't
know if there's a way to avoid demoralizing while also retaining open
discourse, one of the key properties of open source.
I respect the people who have made modularity go. That doesn't mean I
have to agree with the solution, or that I should not speak up when I
know an easier way. Bad things happen when people don't speak up when
they see problems.