Don&#x27;t throw around the word &quot;toxic&quot; unless you are sure it is the case that the behavior in question is toxic -- and not that you are simply allergic.<p>Eric wasn&#x27;t shitting on Linus. He was damning with high praise -- telling him that he was so damned smart, eventually it would bite him in the ass unless he adopted practices that normal programmers needed just to manage. Were I to receive such a message I would feel simultaneously chuffed and challenged.<p>Anyway, Linus could take it -- he&#x27;s certainly dished out worse.<p>Tumblrina culture has made it taboo to actually criticize anyone with stern words -- unless you are calling them out for perceived racism, sexism, or some other breach of political orthodoxy.