Matt Mullenweg Says "The Wheels Have Fallen Off" in WordPress

He said open source norms intended to protect the integrity of the project, including public discussion over calls, broad consensus before decisions, and scheduling that accommodated global time zones, had created a culture that made it functionally impossible to resolve even minor disputes without a weeks-long Slack thread and a cast of dozens. ... He acknowledged he had created many of the structures he was now criticizing. In stepping back from day-to-day leadership, he said, he had deliberately delegated decision-making broadly and built committees and governance layers.

This is not just an open source thing, or a Wordpress thing. I've seen it in nonprofit operations where committees take ages to make simple, sensible decisions (and sometimes still get it wrong!).

I suspect it's an issue in large companies that operate by consensus or are hidebound to authority and protocol. How many large companies in Silicon Valley make a point of saying they want to "move like a startup"?

Big "we're just trying to find the guy who did this" energy

Typical, Matt “NPD” Mullenweg. Who’s surprised at this point?

We? It’s not we. When leadership speaks it should be accountable (<<< edit. Fixed autocorrect error) If not, by definition, that’s not leadership. This isn’t the first time - nor will it be the last - MM shamelessly shows his true colors.

Mullenweg has created a culture of groupthink. But that’s what cult leaders do… Surround themselves with “yes’ers.” He’s upset because his gaslighting has run its course and there’s a lack of new cult members willing to drink his Kool Aid. He’s upset cause he’s loved to beat the quantity drum (read: market share) and now the market is finding quality elsewhere.

Sadly, this won’t be his last rant.