I don’t need to add much more commentary than the original post already has, but this is hardly considered an apology in my eyes:
> While I still think that the totality of the design decisions was a clear a privileged copy, I don't think it warranted my reaction. I'm sorry for that, and I give you permission to publish Riju.
Like thanks for giving me permission to publish MY weekend project that you have 0 say over what I do with, and blame the project as being a copy over “design decisions”. Meaning, a square box with the name of the language overlaying it?
Instead of owning his mistake as he should he basically claims “I have to remember I’m not the struggling kid from Jordan anymore” to avoid taking responsibility and shifts the blame to this ex-intern anyways.
But he still apologized, and the project was reinstated. The issue is resolved. You can continue to be mad about it, or you can forgive and forget. If it were me, I would want to move on and not carry around a little package of resentment. I've got enough to carry as is...
He basically says "I still think you stole from me and I'm only saying sorry and letting you publish your project because of the backlash".
You think he would have apologized if the guy's post didn't get massive amounts of attention on HN?
If you're making a sincere apology you don't try to cover your ass ("While I still think that the totality of the design decisions was a clear a privileged copy") at the same time.
So he's an asshole. So what? What useful purpose in there in demanding he grovel sufficiently and seem sincere? The only point to asking for a "better" apology is to enjoy watching him squirm, the gratification in the fall of someone we dislike, the capitulation of an enemy. What actually mattered was a lawsuit and a project being published. Both of those things were real and impactful, and both were resolved completely. Focusing any more on the apology is Twitterverse schoolyard bullshit nonsense.
There will always be assholes in life, and they're not going to stop being assholes. But they do sometimes control billion dollar companies, and we sometimes need to work with those billion dollar companies. Getting a real impactful change in the world is much more important than the satisfaction of the fall of an ego.
