framework sponsoring right wing-led open-source projects
recent remarks from framework's CEO, nirav patel, are incredibly disappointing, and reflect a recurring theme that i'm seeing in tech: embracing, in both vocal and financial support, right-wing bigots and fascists with the excuse of "they make good tech":community.frame.work/t/framework-supporting-far-right-racists/75986/2
their recent support has been handed to vaxry's hyprland, a linux desktop environment happily nurturing a toxic, transphobic community; and omarchy, a linux distro run by DHH, a racist, right-wing conspiracy theorist.
hyprland: drewdevault.com/2023/09/17/Hyprland-toxicity.html
DHH: jakelazaroff.com/words/dhh-is-way-worse-than-i-thought/
i don't expect framework has looked through every statement vaxry and DHH have made, but it doesn't hurt to run some background on the people you're sponsoring.
by the way, here's a cool (/s, actually really gross and awful. like, seriously, read at your discretion) snippet of the kinds of conversations had among hyprland staff: community.frame.work/t/framework-supporting-far-right-racists/75986/32
this frustrating trend of "apolitical tech acceleration" continues to be, in practice, little more than a weak excuse for embracing contributors who go out of their way to make marginalised groups feel unwelcome in the space. it's antithetical to open-source values. it's embarrassing.
we're seeing it on bluesky, too, where it's deemed perfectly okay to shelter demonstrable bad actors because "they haven't done anything wrong here".
the nazi bar analogy continues to ring. deafeningly.
the people don't want a nazi bar. what will you do if all the good people leave?
i will again highlight that the marginalised groups made unwelcome by these stances are queer folks and people of colour. almost every framework customer i know is queer. i can't think of a user base more committed to their mission. i can't think of a worse crowd to so foolishly alienate.
i write this post out of frustration and disappointment. i hoped that nirav would take a stronger stance on this issue, but instead he's gone hands-off: "it's hard to have a nuanced discussion". to be clear, i don't believe that framework are transphobic or racist- i believe they're apathetic.
on one hand, i totally understand creating a "big tent" for developer partnerships. but these actions paint a very concerning picture. should you really be sponsoring devs who push great replacement theory? to leaders who laugh at the idea of a basic code of conduct? is this really worth it?
personally, i wouldn't want my money, in any capacity, to fund the support and endorsement of people who want people like me dead, or worse. i'm seeing many reports of people pulling their support of framework indefinitely after this news. the most burned are likely pulling out permanently.
i still believe in nirav and the framework team's mission. but i'll go elsewhere if this is where our money ultimately leads. i really, really hope they reconsider. keep your "big tent" if you must, but please set some boundaries.
keep nazis out of your bar.