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WordPress retaliation impacts community

(lwn.net)
238 points chmaynard | 1 comments | 17 Oct 24 04:06 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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bullenweg ◴[17 Oct 24 04:49 UTC] No.41866501[source]▶
Rumors are that another round of voluntary layoffs are coming to Automattic today. I am optimistic for the future of WordPress because it looks less and less likely to involve Matt. Matt has created the ideal conditions for a fork to succeed: WordPress (the software) is a fixture of the internet, it is never going away no matter how much Matt sabotages it but Matt's control over it is not a foregone conclusion given all Matt really controls is the brand. The name and leadership may change, but WordPress will live on.
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serial_dev ◴[17 Oct 24 04:59 UTC] No.41866545[source]▶
I have been thinking about the alignment offer that Automattic has offered its employees. It’s hard for me to imagine any scenario at any company where I would not take the money and go. Six months of salary is a lot of money for just simply walking away.

To be completely honest, after seeing everything that has transpired, I would be worried that the offer is just a lie, a way to out the detractors. I’m wondering if that’s the reason less than 10% accepted the first offer.

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1. FireBeyond ◴[17 Oct 24 16:54 UTC] No.41871376[source]▶
> after seeing everything that has transpired, I would be worried that the offer is just a lie, a way to out the detractors

I expect that even Matt is aware that that is not an unreasonable assumption. Purportedly, via Bullenweg, an email went out yesterday re another offer, and it included this, from Matt:

> You have my word this deal will be honored. We will try to keep this quiet, so it won’t be used against us, but I still wanted to give Automatticians another window.

I mean that would have to be a first. "We're offering voluntary resignations with these benefits" followed by "and I promise we'll actually offer those benefits" - shows you how low trust seems to be at Automattic.