And the more room for 'debate' that you give these people, the longer you are providing cover for all the sketchy shit that they're doing while the governance outcomes are perpetually in limbo and nobody feels empowered to put a stop to it.
Like, I cannot emphasize this enough: the goal of these 'debates' is not to defend or justify the sketchy practices. The goal is to keep everybody busy 'debating' so that nobody is putting a stop to it and it is de facto already permitted.
They don't need to convince anyone to 'win'. They just need to keep the discussion going in perpetuity. #NixOS
(What this strategy reminds you of, is an exercise for the reader.)
@joepie91 I really like how this thrrad applies to so many things
@joepie91 Can think of a lot of lead devs and instance admins this applies to.
(shitpost)
Like, no, when someone is constantly doing sketchy things, and always conveniently finding a way not to engage with the criticism, you *don't* actually have to give them the benefit of the doubt, you can just tell them "no, fuck off".