You've never seen a grown man use strong language or call somebody a fucking something-something? Guess you've never read Mark Twain, or watched George Carlin, or any comic, ever, except maybe that guy from Full House who specializes in "clean comedy." Or been to a bar. Or watched a sports game. Or hung out with people who are passionate.
Please, can the disingenuous hyperbole. Nobody is buying it.
Most importantly, not everyone has to buy into your idea of "professionalism." Thank god.
Oh, please. I know lots of passionate people who are insanely smart and talented and "non-corporate" and still respect time-honored decorum. Why? Because enlightened and influential people choose their words very carefully to avoid acting like bullies.
This is indeed an open-and-shut case of blatant thievery and pathetic excuses and apologies, but let's not make it out to be the mother of all sins. 37signals will continue counting their millions in the morning and a light slap on the bare ass of a small-time thief would have been much more effective.
Somewhere else on this thread you called someone out on his/her analogies yet you invoke Samuel Clemons and George Carlin? Get it right, DHH is Andrew Dice Clay in this whole mess.
DHH isn't an entertainer? He writes and speaks about his life and biz, and others' businesses/business in general, just like Mark Twain and George Carlin, and people pay money for his books and speaking engagements. Sounds like entertainment to me.
And if you haven't heard people cussing in "professional contexts," you must not work with any designers or developers of any caliber. Or serious businessmen and women. Unless you live and work in Utah or in a church, perhaps?
I said, "in public," and no, I have not heard anybody professional of stature rant like a baby like DHH did. Writing and speaking about your life and biz does not make you like George Carlin or Mark Twain. I do both of those things, and I am not even close to being the entertainer or cultural icons those people are. Nor does the fact that you talk about yourself and your accomplishments entitle you to belittle people or act like an idiot and pretend it's part of your profession.
