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ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel communityELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel communityPosted Apr 22, 2008 2:54 UTC (Tue) by fjf33 (subscriber, #5768)In reply to: ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community by Frej Parent article: ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community
I think the problem is that we have created this dichotomy between democracy (good) and everything else (bad) so we cannot apply some of the other terms that are probably closer to the reality of the kernel development. To me it looks more like an aristocracy where the best and the brightest have absolute control based on internally developed conventions and pressures. Their power comes from 'knowing' what is best and right, which is the main reason why they don't abuse their powers. The threat of a peasant revolt (fork?) is what keeps them inline plus the ego massage from belonging to the elite group. A pure democratic method would probably produce a much lower quality product in the sense that it would tend to converge on a boring consensus kernel that tries to be something to everybody without pleasing anyone.
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ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community Posted Apr 22, 2008 13:33 UTC (Tue) by Frej (subscriber, #4165) [Link] >I think the problem is that we have created this dichotomy between democracy (good) and everything else (bad) so we cannot apply some of the other terms that are probably closer to the reality of the kernel development. Exactly what i wanted to get across - but much clearer than what wrote. Thank you! :)
ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community Posted Apr 22, 2008 13:35 UTC (Tue) by Frej (subscriber, #4165) [Link] Exactly what i wanted to get across - but much clearer than what I wrote. Thank you! :)
ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community Posted Apr 22, 2008 15:44 UTC (Tue) by madscientist (subscriber, #16861) [Link] > To me it looks more like an aristocracy where the best and the brightest > have absolute control based on internally developed conventions and > pressures. Their power comes from 'knowing' what is best and right, which > is the main reason why they don't abuse their powers. This is called a meritocracy. An aristocracy is where rule is hereditary.
ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community Posted Apr 24, 2008 3:11 UTC (Thu) by lysse (guest, #3190) [Link] In fact, the word "aristocracy" derives from the Greek for "rule by the best". (It's also worth noting that the coiner of the term "meritocracy" - presumably "rule by the most deserving" - saw it as a *dystopian* ideal; and it doesn't take too much imagination to see that what starts out as meritocracy soon ossifies into aristocracy.)
Linux kernel: aristocracy? Posted Apr 25, 2008 3:40 UTC (Fri) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link] In fact, the word "aristocracy" derives from the Greek for "rule by the best". Sure, but that doesn't mean the best individuals to rule. The original users could have meant rule by the class of people that is defined to be superior rulers or even superior people. In 1561 (which is apparently the earliest use of it), it was common to divide people into such classes, and it was usually done the same way species are: by bloodlines. I just looked to see what two American English dictionaries had to say about it, and one says solidly that it's a "best class," based on heredity. And the other says its either that or the best individuals.
ELC: Morton and Saxena on working with the kernel community Posted May 2, 2008 11:16 UTC (Fri) by dale77 (guest, #1490) [Link] Nice post. Lets try and avoid calling things by labels we like, as opposed to labels which actually apply.
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