Thread Reader App

The Free Software movement’s ongoing tolerance of Stallman and his “awkwardness” (oh is _that_ what were calling feeling up strangers now?) makes it rotten to the core.

And if you’re thinking, “He’s obviously autistic. WHY ARE YOU AGAINST NEURODIVERSITY” lemme just stop you right there

Here’s a distinction that’s important: Autistic - often misjudges how people will react to what they do Sociopathic - doesn’t care how people react to what they do People come in all combinations: neither, just one, & both.

Folks on the autism spectrum, in my experience, are often awesome to work with. Sociopaths on the other hand - nope, never, absolutely canceled.

How do you tell a sociopath? Well, it’s actually pretty straightforward - you give them feedback about the impact of what they’re doing on other people...and they ignore it. Guess what people have been doing for Richard Stallman since AT LEAST the 90s???? GIVING FEEDBACK

An addendum to this thread! Several people were kind enough to point out that I used “sociopath” in an ableist way here. Many folks with personality disorders like sociopathy work very hard to overcome it.

It would have been way better if I’d focused on “sociopathic behavior,” which, by the way, is nope, never, absolutely canceled. Such behavior includes: repeatedly telling the “emacs virgin” joke after being told for _over a decade_ that it was sexist & to cut it the fuck out.

I’m sorry for that fuckup. Thanks for your patience. I’ll do better on this one next time.