I would be impressed by seeing volunteers from the Red Cross saying "Stop wasting my time or you'll pay dearly". Doing something for free doesn't give somebody the right to threatening others, being unpolite, and tainting the image of a project as a whole, and if others start it, ignoring might be a much better choice than replying with the type of thing that makes potential supporters go away and turn to other projects. Public Relation is critical for any public ongoing project, specially a volunteer-based one. There is something called "leadership by example". Ignoring rather than threatening or going mad with people who are questioning the nature of a project will always bring better results. Give the example first, and it'll be mirrored. But somehow, I think this is unchangeable. Respect need to come from both sides and not "I want respect because I am above you, but I don't need to respect you", and if the disrespecting side is ignored rather than disrespected too, this side will leave and not bother anymore. And finally, the threats to all those who question certain things on PlaneShift give the impression that some things are better not discussed here.
One of the most important things about having an open source project, is managing the people properly and giving everybody a fair go.
Don't forget the bit about treating people with respect and dignity. I'd say more, but they'd ban me.
I think this type of thinking shows precisely what some people feel about the "openess" of this place. I don't think I have to say more, but before somebody asks me to join the dev team again instead of complaining, I think the reasons to not join are there, and many people share some of the reasons that I have. I need not to point them specifically, as those few involved, that are capable of criticizing their own works and their own behavior will see them by themselves. And I hope I will not suffer arbitrary retaliation for this post, something that seemed very common in the past. I don't have any will to write more about this.
