If ESR states an technical opinion about software, then he'll get my respect on that front. However, most people fall victim to the logical fallacy of Appeal to Irrelevant Authority. Whenever ESR talks about social issues, it's (ESR - technology). And (ESR - technology) = a racist idiot. Here's how it goes: "I want to learn about hacker culture! Wow, the jargon file! What a great resource! Who maintains this file? Wow, ESR! He must be a great hacker role model! An exemplar of the meritocracy! So smart! So knowledgable! What does he have to say when he speaks his mind?" And then he infects an entire generation of nerds with idiotic, HARMFUL opinions.
Any nerd worth their salt can make up their own mind. People who revere assholes are assholes themselves, and (sad to say) some assholes are decent hackers.
I've never followed his blog, but I have read CATB and found it worth the read.
People who revere assholes become assholes themselves. Some people who revere hackers become decent hackers. Conclusion: If we want to minimize assholes in hacker culture (and we DO), we should not revere assholes. "No TRUE Scotsman...". Nerds aren't very smart, and are very impressionable and prone to hero-worship. They don't form their own opinions through careful and unbiased consideration of the facts; no one does. They're a product of a culture, just like the rest of us. Therefore, we have an ethical imperative to not allow assholes such as ESR to control any amount of social capital, nor have any influence over the youth.People who revere assholes are assholes themselves, and (sad to say) some assholes are decent hackers.
Any nerd worth their salt can make up their own mind.
This seems like a contradiction - I thought it was a requirement. Maybe my terminology is wrong.Nerds aren't very smart
People who identify as "nerds" like to think they're smart. And they're usually perceived as smart, because that's our shitty American culture. You wear glasses? Must be a nerd. Must be intelligent. But no, actually. I once interviewed for a job, and wore glasses during the interview. I had taken my contacts out and hadn't bothered to replace them. I got the job, and when I showed up for the first day of work, I was wearing contacts. The guy who had hired me was visibly distressed that I wasn't wearing glasses. "Where's your glasses?" Nerds are idiots with specialized knowledge, which knowledge our society deems only attainable by geniuses when in fact it's not very hard stuff at all. It's not hard to write web apps.