I'm not a member of the ScummVM community, so I had no idea that some of their developers were acting like spoiled brats.
The hostility and humiliation some of them have shown (especially NRS but also others) are appalling. There is no excuse for treating people like that. I don't care if someone else doesn't have the same level of knowledge as you do - calling people names or humiliating them publicly is unacceptable, full stop.Thank goodness this community isn't anything like that.
Sigh. Speaking of angry people, it reminds me of a story I read once:
Abe Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, had some trouble with a major general who accused him, in abusive terms, of favouritism. Stanton complained to Lincoln, who suggested that he write the officer a sharp letter.
Stanton did so, and showed the strongly worded missive to the President, who applauded its powerful language. "What are you going to do with it?" he asked.
Surprised at the question, Stanton said: "Send it."
Lincoln shook his head. "You don't want to send that letter. Put it in the fire. That's what I do when I've written a letter while I am angry. It's a good letter, and you had a good time writing it, and you feel better. Now, burn it - and write another."
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I always kept that advice in mind, not only on forums but also in daily life (and especially in emails or PMs). Whenever I'm angry or I write something angry, I always think: What would the other person feel like? Would I like it, if it was directed at me? Then I take a deep breath, delete what I wrote, and start again.
