Re: [review][JSON] Some thoughts on recent reviews

From: Mateusz Loskot (mateusz_at_[hidden])
Date: 2020-09-24 10:19:53

On Wed, 23 Sep 2020 at 20:20, Niall Douglas via Boost
<boost_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> On 23/09/2020 14:21, Peter Dimov via Boost wrote:
> > Niall Douglas wrote:
> >
> >> For the record, I've had offlist email discussions about proposed
> >> Boost.JSON with a number of people where the general feeling was that
> >> there was no point in submitting a review, as negative review feedback
> >> would be ignored, possibly with personal retribution thereafter, and
> >> the library was always going to be accepted in any case.
> >
> > Personal retribution, really?
>
> Some have interpreted it as such yes. I have a raft of private email
> that just arrived there after my post here recounting their stories
> about being on the receiving end of Vinnie's behaviour, and/or thanking
> me for writing that post.
>
> Richard, I appreciate your "they're being snowflakes" response and
> standing up for your friend, that was good of you. You should be aware
> that I've known Vinnie longer than you, possibly as long as anyone here.
> I think you'll find you're in the "get it done" philosophical camp (at
> least that's my judgement of you from studying the code you write), so
> Vinnie's fine with you. I have noticed, from watching him on the
> internet, he tends to find most issue with those in the "aim for
> perfection" philosophical camp. Vinnie particularly dislikes other
> people's visions of abstract perfection if it makes no sense to him, if
> it's abtuse, or he doesn't understand it. If you're in that camp, then
> you might have a very different experience than what you've had.
> Nevertheless, I believe Vinnie's opinion is important as representative
> of a significant minority of C++ users, and I think it ought to continue
> to be heard. I might add that the said "snowflakes" that I've spoken to
> have all to date agreed with that opinion, we're perfectly capable of
> withstanding severe technical criticism, indeed some of us serve on WG21
> where every meeting is usually a battering of oneself.
>
> Anyway, I have no wish to discuss this further, all I want to say has
> been said.

Niall,

It is unfortunate that you decided to discuss in the great detail
the issues of personal interactions with Vinnie *before* the JSON
review curtain drops.
Such pursuits just make the review manager(s) job (and wizards')
much harder than it has to be.

No, I don't object to the public collective catharsis.
I just think the timing for it was very unfortunate.

A reminder to all, we are currently trying to answer a simple question:
"Do you think the [JSON] library should be accepted as a Boost library?"
based on constructive criticism and technical evidence.

Best regards,
-- 
The Review Wizard for Boost C++ Libraries
Mateusz Loskot, http://mateusz.loskot.net