Warning: This post includes vulgarities and sexual threats to my family. They’re all talk and nothing more, but it’s gross.
There’s a forum guideline that a lot of people don’t like. At its heart, it’s simple: if you’re going to use the forums, use the forums and help people in the forums, don’t send them off to your private site.
The reason being, people will likely find their question in Google Search and come to WordPress.org. Logically their answer should be there. It’s not an uncommon guideline, and in fact I’m pretty sure StackExchange also has that. Keeping the answer local ensures the data remains available and people don’t get all DenverCoder9 on the world.
Our buddy, Henry (you know the drill, not his real name), ran afoul of this around the same time he submitted his first plugin. Henry was replying to people with directions to ask via his LinkedIn account. The forum mods warned him, a couple times, and then flagged his account. A flagged account can still submit a plugin, and I noticed the flag when he submitted.
Naturally I went to see what was going on.
Unclear on the Concept
Henry admitted to using LinkedIn as a way to solicit for work on .org, with the ultimate goal of getting support for his plugin (yeah) via that. Why? Because he needed a way for his users for his newly submitted plugin to get in touch with him. And as it unfurled, he had no clue WordPress gave you free forums for your plugins.
Now, that we can also move past. People can’t know what they don’t know. But before the Password Reset team gave him the all clear, they wanted to be sure he understood what was wrong, and they asked “Hey, do you get WHY telling people to go to your linked in for help is bad?”
The Reset Team knew that you have to ask people that, otherwise you get replies like Henry’s which was “I know what you’re saying and I agree with you.” The thing is, that is not a real confirmation so they asked it a little differently.
Can you please tell us “Yes I understand that X is not allowed here.” changing X for what actually is the heart of the issue?
While that certainly is annoying to get in an email, it also gives Henry the chance to say “I understand linking to LinkedIn isn’t allowed here” and they could then elaborate “Can you confirm you understand that linking to any off-site location for support isn’t permitted?” Then you have their word and can use it against them when they screw up again.
Again With My Mom…
Instead of that, or some kind of annoyed “Bitch I understand!” reply, Henry showed his own ass.
Can you please send me your contact that I can personally talk to you?
Then I will let you know better. If you have guts then please do it.
And listen if you want to enable my account then do it otherwise keep it in your asshole.
And I am here with your mom in my bed. So I am very busy with her. If you want to help then my child you can.
I saw that, blinked, rejected the plugin and banned his account with a ‘blah blah your behavior ain’t welcome.’
Then he followed up:
Even your father can’t stop me son of a bitch. Just try your best and I will fuck your asshole my entire life my dick. Just ask your mom how much see enjoy it. Your whole family will enjoy it.
I will fuck your plugin team as well. Just suck my dick motherfucker. You and your team is a loser. Motherfucker.
Asshole your mom’s pussy is very juicy and she loves my cum into ger mouth. Call her and ask that who am I. She is definitely tell you my illegal son.
And you my boy can’t stop me. I will fuck your ass daily now.
And finally this gem:
Come my little boy take your daddy’s dick into your mouth. Suck it nicely and take it to your throat.
So you can see why the ban stands.
Annoying But Necessary
I want to stress, I absolutely understand how annoying it is to be asked “Do you really get it?” but any time you’re asked that? You 100% need to step back and think.
Why is someone asking you in that way?
Why are they pushing you about something?
The answer is because you are behaving in a way that makes them doubt you do, in fact, understand the issue. And when that happens, you should reply with what you actually understand.
“Sorry, yes, I understand that linking to an off-.org site for support isn’t permitted, and I get a forum of my own for my plugin, for free.”
If Henry had replied with that? All would be well. But he instead took the repeat ask as an offense instead of a request for clearer information. When you’re not clear to the people asking you something, they 100% will ask again in different ways, to try and make sure.
Why do we do that?
So you don’t make the same mistake.
Henry, though, well, you can’t help that.
