[aur-general] Trusted user application: Drew DeVault

[Christos Nouskas]

On Wed, 6 Mar 2019 at 18:04, Brett Cornwall via aur-general
<aur-general at archlinux.org> wrote:
> I feel that by conflating applicant vetting with political correctness
> you're letting your own political viewpoints get in the way of a proper
> applicant screening. Some of the criteria of a TU involve interfacing
> with the community; What users will think of Arch. How is it 'political
> correctness' to judge fitness of a position based on past behavior?

It is, when the focus of judgement lingers disproportionately on
something that happened years ago and which was smaller than small
potatoes. Additionally, your initial comment "I am also not in any
sort of witch hunt, just thought this would be relevant" is an awful
politically correct adaptation of the "I'm not a racist, but" excuse.

> I agree that he held himself well during the application process... but
> anyone that's been in a hiring position can tell you that applicants can
> be very good at hiding their faults when in a position of scrutiny.
> That's the process, after all: Applicants dress themselves up and the
> hiring staff look for the cracks.

This weak analogy, which presumes all applicants are guilty until
proven innocent, cuts both ways; if you extend it further then when
those applicants become hiring staff themselves, they unleash their
hitherto well-hidden faults and lash out upon new applicants. Wait,
what?

> The TUs with questionable behavior are being discussed at this very
> moment - how can you suggest that DeVault was given unfair treatment?

Unfair is when you're getting a laptop for free and make a big deal
about a scratch on the lid.

> Just because a developer is well-known doesn't mean that they're fit for
> every role.

I pointed out a repeat pattern of behaviour with regard to TU
applications. And if a couple of a- or f-words over the years weigh
more than one's technical prowess and intent of being a good TU, then
you should reconsider your criteria.

> Please provide examples of bullying and slander towards the applicant
> during the TU process.

I wasn't only referring to this applicant: see
https://lists.archlinux.org/pipermail/aur-general/2018-October/thread.html
The mere fact that Lukas Fleischer had to step in on behalf of the
Arch team and acknowledge the problem[0], should tell everyone
something. I thought it to be the best possible conclusion.
The problem is that his closing words ("We will work it out
internally. People make mistakes. We learn from it, try to improve and
move on.") apparently meant nothing to some people.

>  As a recent TU addition, I felt that my "inquisitors" treated me quite well during the process.

Well, you have to admit that you had got way less surface of exposure
than DeVault for "the hiring staff to look for cracks".


[0] https://lists.archlinux.org/pipermail/aur-general/2018-October/034488.html

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