Matt Mullenweg began a Reddit dialogue within the r/WPDrama subreddit asking what sort of drama he can create in 2025, sparking an avalanche of responses that subsequently generated a derivative dialogue about one among his responses to a different Redditor.
The general public r/WPDrama subreddit was created in October 2024 as a spot to debate the fallout from Mullenweg’s battle with WP Engine. It presently has over 1,300 members.
Mullenweg And Drama
Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of the WordPress CMS (Content material Administration System), was concerned in a self-described “nuclear” battle with WP Engine within the latter half of 2024. The battle has usually brought about a unfavorable backlash towards Mullenweg and has led to a name for a restructuring of the governance of the open supply WordPress mission by Joost de Valk (co-founder of the Yoast web optimization Plugin).
So it was considerably stunning that he confirmed up on Reddit asking what additional drama may he fire up in 2025. The submit was provocatively titled: What drama ought to I create in 2025?
His intent for the submit was not about creating precise drama however fairly it was about what modifications may very well be made to WordPress. The submit title seemed to be a tongue in cheek however provocative alternative for the Reddit dialogue.
Mullenweg posted:
“I’m very open to ideas. Ought to we cease naming releases after jazz musicians and identify them after Drake lyrics? Eradicate all dashboard notices? Take over any plugins into core? Change from blue to purple?
I believe we will brainstorm collectively and provide you with method higher issues than I may by myself. ☺️ Additionally, Merry Christmas!”
His dialogue starter generated almost 600 responses, seemingly all of them unfavorable.
The moderator of the subreddit pinned their response to the highest of the dialogue, which partially reads:
“I’ve a unbelievable concept for some drama we will rise up to. Why don’t we create a charitable basis governing our open supply software program product, as an alternative of our for-profit firm. Why don’t we additionally function our important web site as its personal separate entity, with workers and volunteers supplied by one more entity. Then, why dont now we have all of those entities take motion towards one among our rivals and their whole buyer base, refusing to do enterprise with any prospects till they cease working with our competitor. Why don’t we ban ALL of these individuals from our providers, and attempt to compel them to make use of our service as an alternative?”
That just about set the tone for your complete dialogue.
ryanduff answered Matt’s query with:
“You need to log out and discover a good therapist”
Matt Mullenweg responded:
“Hello Ryan, freelance WordPress developer. I’m glad that WordPress and WooCommerce have been instruments which have supplied you some utility and financial profit up to now, and hopefully once more sooner or later. Your profile notes your robust non secular perception, I’d ask earlier than you submit one thing like this once more you ask: WWJD?”
WWJD is an acronym for “What Would Jesus Do?” Redditors responded with riffs on that remark.
His response obtained 85 downvotes, representing the displeasure and unpopularity of his submit with different Redditors. One of many responses to his WWJD submit referenced the federal choose who granted WP Engine’s request for a preliminary injunction.
They posted:
“What would Decide (Araceli Martínez-Olguín) do? We’ll see.”
One other Redditor responded:
“Perhaps you must ask your self WWJD (What Would Joost Do)”
That department of the dialogue went utterly off the rails with numerous ideas of what Mullenweg ought to do and spawned a standalone dialogue titled, “Is Matt low-key threatening or trying to intimidate this r/WPDrama consumer?”
That spinoff dialogue spawned responses reminiscent of this one:
“He both thinks it’s humorous, likes the eye, or is thus far gone psychologically it doesn’t occasion register in his thoughts that your / our views matter in any respect. I’d guess it’s a mix of all the above.
The most effective factor we will all do is break from WP utterly and withdraw all volunteering, all monetary interactions, minimize utilizing it, cease recommending it, and use one thing else for purchasers, or use a fork.
He was having fun with being a bully earlier than he picked on WP Engine and now could be shedding the plot as they are saying and hopefully Joost can begin his personal fork that may lastly be supported and marketed properly sufficient to get going or can organize some form of ouster of spoiled child MM.”
Matt Mullenweg’s Response To The Negativity
The response to his dialogue was overwhelmingly unfavorable. However Mullenweg ended his participation by wishing everybody a Merry Christmas.
He posted:
“I’m signing off for the night time, it’s time for household film time. Thanks for the dialog everybody. 🙂 I actually do get pleasure from speaking with individuals on the web, even when we don’t all the time agree, and I recognize everybody taking the time to share their perspective. Boards like that is how I obtained my begin as a youngster. For those who assume Reddit is spicy, you must have seen Usenet and IRC again within the day! I hope you all have a tremendous Christmas and really pleased new 12 months.”
That comparatively upbeat submit obtained seven down votes.
Learn your complete dialogue right here:
What drama ought to I create in 2025?
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