On kernel mailing list behavior

The biggest issue I find with the "kernel mailing list behavior" is what appears to be some degree of "snobbery" directed at newcomers.

While I don't find the particular examples in the article particularly offensive, the LKML (and the RT list and the linux-ppc list, and probably others) is far from a friendly place. And it certainly discourages input from people. Within our company, I have become the "go to" guy when dealing with kernel issues because I seem to have the skin tough enough to weather the responses (if any) because nobody else wants to deal with people on the list.

In my experience, when posting on the LMKL, whether patches, questions, or general commentary the initial response to newcomers is usually either to be ignored or told to come back when they know more. This type of initial response turns people off. I'm an old internet fart and remember the days of usenet flamewars (both a flamer and a flamee), so perhaps I'm conditioned to this type of culture. But this isn't the usenet days, and the internet isn't limited to well educated and connected university folk.

Two communities I find very easy to work with are the #kernelnewbies and #ubuntu (and unrelated to the kernel, the postgres folk are great as well). In my experience, these groups show patience with newcomers, and then become much more direct and forceful if advice given is ignored.

While certainly the kernel community (and leadership) is recognized as a gathering of brilliant, dedicated individuals, I think it is also looked upon as some sort of nobility. And that nobility sometimes treats others like commoners.