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Python Bans Prominent Dev for Enjoying the Wrong Old SNL Sketch
Even worse: He was too active in a conversation! That's a Code of Conduct Violation!
August 12, 2024
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The Python Software Foundation has just suspended one of their most prominent developers... for, I kid you not, finding a classic SNL sketch "genuinely funny".

Not a joke.  This is a real thing that is happening.

The Python Developer: Tim Peters

To put all of this in context, it's important to understand the person who the Python Software Foundation just suspended.

Tim Peters won the "Python Distinguished Service Award" in 2017.  I'll let the Python Software Foundation tell you how much they absolutely love Tim in their own words:

 

"Tim's technical contributions to Python are immense as he implemented several modules into the standard library. Some examples include timsort, doctest, and the timeit module. Furthermore, Tim contributed to the Python Cookbook by writing the chapter on algorithms.

 

Tim also has contributed to the Python community. He wrote the Zen of Python via PEP20 in 2015. He reached approximately one million people via his answers on Stack Over Flow. Moreover, Tim was an active PSF Board Director from 2001 to 2014 meaning that he volunteered on the board for 13 years! Additionally, Tim has contributed to many Python mailing lists and has been known to always contribute in a friendly, funny, and helpful way."

 

It's hard to imagine a more glowing recommendation for how important a person could be to the world of Python.  And this only scratches the surface of Tim Peters' time with Python.

Bear all of that in mind as we look at why the Python Software Foundation just suspended him.

Why Python Suspended Tim

On August 7th, the "Python Software Foundation's Code of Conduct Working Group" recommended a suspension of Tim Peters (which was implemented).

Some of the reasons for the suspension are... pretty wild.  I'll list the craziest ones below.

 

"Defending “reverse racism” and “reverse sexism”, concepts not backed by empirical evidence, which could be seen as deliberate intimidation or creating an exclusionary environment."

 

This is a common (crazy) rule in the Open Source world.  Defending "Reverse Racism" is expressly forbidden in many tech organizations (such as GNOME for example).

What is "Reverse Racism", you ask?  It's the idea that "White People" can experience discrimination.  If you even suggest that anyone has ever discriminated against a "White Person"... you are defending "Reverse Racism".  Which will get you banned from GNOME, Python, and so many other organizations.

Crazy.  But true.

What's even more crazy?  I could find no example of Tim Peters actually "Defending Reverse Racism" anyway.  This appears to be made up entirely, as far as I can tell.

 

"Using potentially offensive language or slurs, in one case even calling an SNL skit from the 1970s using the same slur “genuinely funny”, which shows a lack of empathy towards other community members."

 

This, I'm not joking, is an actual, cited reason for the suspension of Tim Peters.  That he found an SNL sketch funny.

What is that SNL sketch?  The famous "Point, Counter-Point" 1979 sketch staring Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin.  The one where Dan Aykroyd says the phrase, "Jane, you ignorant slut.".

Why is that SNL sketch even being mentioned?

Because there was a Python package named "slut"... which had the name censored.  And Tim Peters referenced that package by trying to not say the word itself, but referenced the SNL sketch.

Seriously.  That's a bannable offense within Python.

Side note: The Lunduke Journal officially finds that 1979 SNL sketch to be funny.

 

"Overloading the discussion of the bylaws change (47 out of 177 posts in topic at the time the moderators closed the topic), which created an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and doubt, which encouraged increasingly emotional responses from other community members. The later result of the vote showed 81% support for the most controversial of the bylaws changes, which demonstrates the controversy was blown out of proportion."

 

In short: There was a proposed change to the Python bylaws.  Tim Peters -- one of the most prominent Python contributors in existence (according to the Python Software Foundation itself) -- had lots of thoughts about it.

But Tim's opinions were not supported by the board of the Python Software Foundation.  And he talked about his opinions more than the "powers that be" wanted him to.

So he was suspended from the project.

Tim Peters was silenced for wrongthink.

The Python Bylaws Change

Let's talk about those proposed changes to the Python bylaws (which were passed and implemented).

There was one change, in particular, which caused most of the discussion:

 

"Allow for removal of Fellows by a Board vote in response to Code of Conduct violations, removing the need for a vote of the membership"

 

Up until this point, a "Fellow" of the Python Software Foundation could only be removed by a vote of the Python Foundation membership.  A big, public vote of the members.

This bylaw change removed that public vote... Instead allowing any "Python Fellow" to have their "Fellowship" stripped by an "affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors".

Why would this change be needed, you ask?

Well.  It takes power away from the public membership of the Python Software Foundation... and moves that power to a small group, who can exercise that power (predominantly) in secret.

Tim Peters objected to this change with 47 total comments or replies in a discussion on the topic.  Which, apparently, is too large a number.  Tim was, according to Python, too active in a discussion.

And we can't have people being active in discusions, now can we?  Especially when those people are not being 100% supportive of those in power.

How many total comments are allowed in a discussion?  46?  35?  20?  There does not appear to be a hard limit documented anywhere in the Python "Code of Conduct".  

This Feels Familiar

Prominant developers and contributors.  Banned or suspended from projects.  By people using a "Code of Conduct" as a weapon.

Boy.  This sure feels familiar, doesn't it?

Likewise we sure do seem to be having a rash of "Open Source Boards" making moves to centralize power in secret ways.

Many, Many Questions

The Lunduke Journal reached out to everyone involved -- including both Tim Peters and members of the Python Software Foundation -- for comment (and with a number of questions).

No representative of Python responded.  Tim Peters, however, did respond.  His responses to my questions are included below.  In full.  And without comment from me.

 


 

Full emailed response from Tim Peters:

 

> Do you feel that the 3 months suspension was justified and reasonable?

 

No comment at this time. Chris McDonough wrote a detailed blog post that may or may not ;-) closely reflect my view of it all:

    https://chrismcdonough.substack.com/p/the-shameful-defenestration-of-tim

 

> Considering the recent rule change where the Python Board can
> remove members without a public vote, do you anticipate such action being
> taken against you

 

Not against me, no.

 

> or others?

 

Absolutely yes. The discussion of the rule change made that very clear: there are people they want to strip of Fellow status, but it seems these are due to very "local" incidents not known to the larger Python community, and more substantial than run-of-the-mill "somebody posted an offensive word" complaints. While no specifics were revealed, I believed them on these points.

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A Tech Journalist interviewed me for a hit-piece article. But the questions made them look bad, and they shelved the story. So I'm publishing their hit-piece for them.

Back in September, shortly after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I was contacted by a Tech Journalist writing for FossForce.com (a smaller, Open Source focused publication) who was working on an article around Open Source, Antifa, and the Lunduke Journal’s coverage of those topics.

This particular outlet had, several months prior, run an “anti-Lunduke” hit piece without first reaching out for comment — which resulted in their most popular article (at least on social media) in quite some time.

With that in mind, it seemed reasonable that they’d want to repeat that success with another “anti-Lunduke” story.

This time they were doing the responsible thing. They reached out to the subject of the hit-piece article with questions. I like encouraging Tech Journalists when they do actual journalism, so I answered each and every query with easy-to-quote responses.

But, it would appear that the answers they received were not conducive to creating the hit-piece they were hoping for — my guess is they realized their questions made them look like the villain in the story. The villain they, clearly, hoped to portray me as.

They opted to not publish the piece.

So I’m publishing their hit-piece for them.

Below is every question — and every answer (with no edits) — which I was asked, on September 19th, by a Tech Journalist by the name of Christine Hall, writing for FossForce.

Fair warning: This is very, very politically charged.

Enjoy.


September 19th

Hall:

The last time I mentioned you in an article, you castigated me for not reaching out to you beforehand. Well, I’m reaching out now. We’ll see what comes of this.

You do recognize that the vast majority of organizations using the term antifa as a descriptor are not in the least bit terrorist and pose no threat to society -- and indeed, the only threats they might pose to fascist groups are not physical or life-harming?

Lunduke:

Hello Christine! Nice to hear from you!

Many, if not most, of those proclaiming support for Antifa (within Open Source) have also made statements encouraging or supporting violence and discrimination.

Regardless of that fact -- which I have documented extensively in Lunduke Journal coverage -- when violent acts are committed (such as murder, riots, and lynchings) in the name of “Antifa”, to turn around and immediately declare yourself to be “Antifa” is a clear declaration of support of that violence.

Hall:

And why did you feel it necessary to call out Danielle Foré’s [the founder of the elementary OS Linux Distribution] trans status in such an ugly manner?

Lunduke:

There is a noteworthy overlap between “Trans activism” and support for political violence -- including in the recent murder of Charlie Kirk (the murderer’s boyfriend was “Trans”).

In the case of Daniel Fore, he, a leader of an Open Source project, regularly calls for discrimination (and violence) against people he disagrees with -- often in conjunction with his self-declaration as “Trans”.

Thus, his declaration of being “Trans” becomes a part of the overall story.

It is worth noting here that The Lunduke Journal has never -- and would never -- call for discrimination or violence against someone because of how they identify or who they may (or may not) vote for.

This is in stark contrast those, such as Mr. Fore, who consider themselves “Trans” or “Antifa” -- who actively advocate for both discrimination and violence.

Hall:

Mentioning a person’s trans status in ways that are pertinent to your argument necessates rudeness such as calling her a “dude who likes to wear dresses”?

Lunduke:

Dan Fore is, in fact, a dude who likes to wear dresses.

The only reason to view that as a negative is if you view dudes wearing dresses as a negative.

Hall:

I’ll quote you on that, which I’m pretty sure won’t bother you in the least.

Lunduke:

Absolutely! Quote anything I say here. In fact, I suggest quoting absolutely everything I’ve written to you here, today.

Hall:

You also understand, don’t you, that voicing disagreement with an assessment made by POTUS is not only legal but a healthy part of the national dialog.

Lunduke:

Absolutely! Did I say somewhere that it was illegal to disagree with a politician? It seems unlikely that I have ever said that.

Hall:

Also, how would you reply to this:

There have been very few murders linked to individuals associated with Antifa, some incidents of rioting attributed to Antifa supporters, and no credible evidence of lynchings conducted in the name of Antifa. Compared to far-right groups, violence attributed to Antifa is much less frequent and lethal, with only one suspected kill—Aaron Danielson in Portland, by an anti-fascist activist—officially confirmed in recent U.S. history.

Lunduke:

Murder is bad. I am opposed to all murder.

In the context of these discussions, bearing in mind the Kirk murder is important (as many statements were made in response to it). The murderer of Kirk appears to have been pro-Trans and pro-Antifa (based on all available information).

Hall:

Is there any evidence that the suspect was part of an antifa group? I haven’t seen any.

Lunduke:

I have seen some reporting to this effect (including statements from family and messages he wrote).

But, far more important to this story, is the response to the murder among Antifa supporters (including those within Open Source). A large portion of Antifa supporters have celebrated the murder as justified because it killed someone they considered to be a “fascist”.

Hall:

Also, no group should be held responsible for what some deranged person who identifies with the group has done.

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I agree that a broader group should not be held responsible for the actions of a small number of individuals.

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Advocating for violence, then celebrating when violence is committed, are not good things.

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