Why the Tim hatin’? What is up with you people?

I may not agree with the idea of a formal code of blogger ethics, with associated badges, but the degree of vitriol against Tim O’Reilly for caring enough to put an idea forward seems bizarre to me. I keep seeing the word “deserved” associated with negative posts – we all seem to want to see a leading light of the industry eviscerated. Why? I thought it was a British disease to raise people up and then trash them for getting ideas above their station, but it seems the illness is also rampant on the web.

Someone thought it was funny to photoshop a picture of Tim covering up a gotze (don’t search on the term, you don’t want to follow that link), in a peculiar visual rhyme of some of the offensive material about Kathy Sierra. Ah yes in the early days of the web we could send “newbs” to check out gotze- oh how we laughed. Pathetic. So Tim cares enough about abuse of women in a male dominated community to try and put an idea forward that might help a teeny bit and now we’re mocking up pictures of him because of that? Critique the ideas people, Tim is listening to that – he is learning lessons. Why so much joy in hate? Yes we have free speech. Yes we should celebrate the fact. But freedom is power, and with great power, yep you know where i am going with this, i am sure your spidey sense is tingling, comes great responsibility.

Tim O’Reilly seems to take his responsibilities very seriously. I know he cares deeply about the O’Reilly Network and everyone on it. If it seems at times that he is veering into commercialism of course he is. He wants his community to do well, to make money, and to be recognised for the contributions they make.

There is another Tim, this one Bray, who wonders about our aggression. Say what you like about Tim Bray but refusing to aknowledge his industry contributions is just asisine. What I like most about Tim, which is why Hanis’ critique falls down utterly, is that he is a guy that absolutely won’t rest on his laurels. Tim doesn’t want to be remembered for XML – he is far more interested and passionate about pushing us towards lightweight development approaches.

Today I want to recognize both Tims for all the great work they do. Gentlemen- please accept monkchips You Got The Funk Awards, which are given for outstanding contributions to stuff.