I’m Nat Friedman, Future CEO of GitHub. AMA

What are your thoughts on how GitHub can incentivize open source work financially? Perhaps by integrating something like Patreon or OpenCollective in the website.

It seems that he won't answer it. Still would be awesome if GitHub started addressing this in some way in the future.

EDIT: He answered it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comments/8pc8mf/im_nat_friedman...

Re: I’m Nat Friedman, Future CEO of GitHub. AMA

#5

Post by craftyguy » Thu, Jun 07, 2018, 6:03 PM UTC

nikivi wrote: post #4

I asked: What are your thoughts on how GitHub can incentivize open source work financially? Perhaps by integrating something like Patreon or OpenCollective in the website. It seems that he won't answer it. Still would be awesome if GitHub started addressing this in some way in the future. EDIT: He answered it. https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comments/8pc8mf/im_nat_friedman...

There's a reason it's AMA and not IAA (I answer anything). Most AMAs like this one are PR stunts, where the "what's your favorite ___" are answered while the tough, controversial qeustions are ignored.

Re: I’m Nat Friedman, Future CEO of GitHub. AMA

#6

Post by kartan » Thu, Jun 07, 2018, 6:03 PM UTC

Nat is being really smart here. It should not backfire unless he acts pedantic or insults Redditors intelligence. I think that both are unlikely.

Maybe Nat is trying to counteract any PR damage to GitHub, or maybe he just wants to see how much can skyrocket his account's karma. If I was in his situation I will be happy doing it for both reasons.

Re: I’m Nat Friedman, Future CEO of GitHub. AMA

#7

Post by briandoll » Thu, Jun 07, 2018, 6:05 PM UTC

nikivi wrote: post #4

I asked: What are your thoughts on how GitHub can incentivize open source work financially? Perhaps by integrating something like Patreon or OpenCollective in the website. It seems that he won't answer it. Still would be awesome if GitHub started addressing this in some way in the future. EDIT: He answered it. https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comments/8pc8mf/im_nat_friedman...

Tidelift has a compelling approach to this: https://tidelift.com/

Re: I’m Nat Friedman, Future CEO of GitHub. AMA

#8

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jun 07, 2018, 6:05 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: I’m Nat Friedman, Future CEO of GitHub. AMA

#9

Post by baby » Thu, Jun 07, 2018, 6:07 PM UTC

kartan wrote: post #6

Nat is being really smart here. It should not backfire unless he acts pedantic or insults Redditors intelligence. I think that both are unlikely. Maybe Nat is trying to counteract any PR damage to GitHub, or maybe he just wants to see how much can skyrocket his account's karma. If I was in his situation I will be happy doing it for both reasons.

He’s probably too busy to care about internet points.

Re: I’m Nat Friedman, Future CEO of GitHub. AMA

#10

Post by alexwebb2 » Thu, Jun 07, 2018, 6:07 PM UTC

minimaxir wrote: post #2

Why was the AMA posted on /r/AMA instead of /r/IAMA? Certainly the future CEO of GitHub is notable enough for the latter subreddit.

I assume that's just an embarrassing mistake on the part of Github's PR team.

There's really no reason that a CEO currently making headlines should be on /r/AMA instead of r/IAMA (70x more users).