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Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

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Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#31
post #6

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Brendan Eich had some beliefs that were against Mozilla's core values, but on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it. It's scary because this mob has global reach, unlimited power, but isn't always right.

on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it.

I don't think that this follows. In this particular case, someone was promoted to a role which many felt was incompatible with his personal views; they made that known, and the person in question stepped down. That's kind of how things should work in a community enterprise.

That said, I understand he's received wildly disproportionate abuse, like death threats. That's totally unacceptable, and frankly I'm surprised that anybody feels that strongly about the issue.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#32
post #6

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Brendan Eich had some beliefs that were against Mozilla's core values, but on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it. It's scary because this mob has global reach, unlimited power, but isn't always right.

Who is "this mob"?

Oh, just folks like Erin Kissane: http://incisive.nu/2014/thinking-about-mozilla/

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#35
post #14

From the recode recap - http://recode.net/2014/04/03/mozilla-co-founder-brendan-eich... >“It’s clear that Brendan cannot lead Mozilla in this setting,” said Baker, who added that she would not and could not speak for Eich. “The ability to lead — particularly for the CEO — is fundamental to the role and that is not possible here.” The most damning aspect of this was their a) inability to predict this would be an issue…

I agree with this. His last interview was just embarrassingly bad, no kind of leadership at all. Leadership is taking responsibility and owning your actions, not hand waving and vaguely pushing away.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#36
I find this whole ordeal disappointing. Eich's personal beliefs should have only been criticized insofar as they impacted his ability as CEO. I'm not sure how much that would have been, but the attacks targeted Eich as a whole, and shouldn't have.

Regardless, his stepping down seemed to be the only way to move Mozilla forward, which is a shame.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#37
post #6

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Brendan Eich had some beliefs that were against Mozilla's core values, but on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it. It's scary because this mob has global reach, unlimited power, but isn't always right.

Who is "this mob"?

the twitterati

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#38
post #6

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Brendan Eich had some beliefs that were against Mozilla's core values, but on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it. It's scary because this mob has global reach, unlimited power, but isn't always right.

They are not right on this one. Eich was clearly persecuted politically.

Who persecuted Eich? His detractors were merely engaging in their freedom of speech. You know, free market and all that.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#40
post #6

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Brendan Eich had some beliefs that were against Mozilla's core values, but on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it. It's scary because this mob has global reach, unlimited power, but isn't always right.

Three board members did step down [1] so it's not just the internet.

[1] http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/03/28/three-mozilla-board-m...

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