As every contributor to the Lightning BOLTs, we do open Lightning BOLTs dev meetings every 2 weeks.
Ahead of next meeting Monday, I did open an issue to ask clarification today:
https://github.com/lightning/bolts/issues/1287
The message was wholly fact-based, a bit rude, as I'm asking clarification why Block Inc is blocking my main account to contribute on the Lightning BOLTs, but still polite and gentle.
Few hours afters, I saw my issue closed without explanation and my comment abusely flagged as abuse:
https://github.com/lightning/bolts/issues/1286#issuecomment-3255500427
Here you go the notification email received:
From: Rusty Russell <notifications@github.com>
Reply-To: lightning/bolts
<reply+BRXBFCJBSUB3RK4ZTRDOIGGGYXXTVEVBNHHMTSBS2E@reply.github.com>
To: lightning/bolts <bolts@noreply.github.com>
Cc: ariard3 <
Author <author@noreply.github.com>
Message-Id: <lightning/bolts/issue/1287/issue_event/19516912746@github.com>
In-Reply-To: <lightning/bolts/issues/1287@github.com>
References: <lightning/bolts/issues/1287@github.com>
Subject: Re: [lightning/bolts] Unban @ariard main account and deprecate the code of
conduct (Issue #1287)
So I'm wondering if Rusty Russell is that independent of Block Inc....or not.
After all his employer (Blockstream) made a deal with Square Up in 2021: https://blockstream.com/press-releases/2021-06-05-blockstream-and-square-inc-join-forces-to-build-solar-powered-bitcoin-mine-in-the-us/`
Few months ago, Rusty Russell did confirm he didn't have an "open-source independence" protection in his employment contract with Blockstream. Historically, folks like Gregory Maxwell or Pieter Wuille did have such legal protections in their employment contracts with Blockstream, to protect their works as contributors on Bitcoin Core.
Rusty might give in to the arbitrary desiderata of Block Inc, as for him it can be always a solid employment option if Blockstream has more financial difficulties in the future. This already happened as in 2023, instagibbs did transition from Blockstream to Spiral, as every insider knows Blockstream was trying to compress its payroll at the time.
Is Rusty Russell true to his words of 2018 about the corrosion of ethics in cryptocurrencies:
https://rusty.ozlabs.org/2018/02/14/the-corrosion-of-ethics-in-cryptocurrencies.html
I don't know ? Up to everyone in the community to be judge :(
I'm the one who is patiently trying to build the dialogue, clarify the misunderstanding and gently trying to bridge among the contributors cultural backgrounds and diversity of professional experiences. And I all got its a middle finger and a complete refusal to talk. I do think Rusty has bad consciousness here...
Anyway, that the kind of issue to handle with calm and patience -- and a zest of philosophy.
The Context of the Dispute
The Source of Misalignment
My General View on Open-Source Communications