Matt Mullenweg Tried to Get Me Fired  ## Metadata - Author: [[Ben Cook]] - Full Title: Matt Mullenweg Tried to Get Me Fired - Category: #articles - Document Note: # Title: We Cater to Cowards --- tags: #mattMullenweg #WordPress #socialMediaPolicy Author: Anonymous Source: Anonymous Blog Reference: N/A --- ## Table of Contents: - Summary - Main Content - Overview - Personal Experience - Criticisms of Matt Mullenweg - Lessons Learned ## Index Creation: - WordPress - Social Media Disclaimers - Cyberbullying - Freedom of Speech ## 📝 Summary: The article sheds light on Matt Mullenweg's reaction to criticism, particularly through cyberbullying tactics, and the importance of understanding social media policies to prevent unjust consequences in the workplace. ## 📖 Main Content: ### Overview The post addresses the notion that while Matt Mullenweg often advocates for user freedom within open source platforms, he appears intolerant of criticism himself. This contradiction raises questions about his commitment to the principles he promotes. ### Personal Experience The author recalls a situation where Matt Mullenweg escalated criticism to the author's employer, under the guise of hate speech concerns. Despite adhering to social media policies, the author was subjected to baseless accusations. ### Criticisms of Matt Mullenweg The text also scrutinizes Matt Mullenweg's behavior within the WordPress community, highlighting instances of bullying, threats, and intimidation. This behavior contradicts the benevolent image associated with him. ### Lessons Learned The article concludes with advice to adhere to social media policies, especially in the face of unwarranted attacks from figures like Matt Mullenweg. It also emphasizes the difficulty of critiquing Mullenweg or his ventures without facing backlash. ### 🗒️ Notes: - Author calls out Mullenweg for failing to live up to user freedom ideals he espouses. - Personal encounter with Mullenweg's reaction to criticism led to a workplace inquiry. - Lessons to follow company's social media policy and potential repercussions from criticizing Mullenweg or WordPress. ## 📖 References: Cited sources within the article and personal experiences of the author. ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Original:** Matt raised issues of hate speech with the author's employer, citing discrepancies with company policies. **Paraphrased:** Mullenweg brought up concerns about hate speech to the author's employer, alleging policy violations. 2. **Original:** The text underlines the lack of benevolence in Mullenweg's actions, contrary to his 'benevolent dictator' title. **Paraphrased:** Despite being known as the 'benevolent dictator,' Mullenweg's actions exhibit behaviors lacking benevolence. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: - Studies might explore the impact of cyberbullying on employees' mental health in similar cases. - Future research could delve into the dynamics of power within online communities and their influence on organizational policies. ## 📊 Methodology: Potential methodologies include conducting surveys among WordPress users to gauge perceptions of Mullenweg's leadership style. Data sources may include user forums and social media interactions within the community. ## ❓ Questions: - How can organizations protect employees from unwarranted attacks initiated outside the workplace? - What ethical considerations should be made when discussing individuals in online platforms known for their prominence? ## 🔮 Future Research: Exploring the intersections of freedom of speech in online spaces with potential repercussions in offline settings. Investigating the psychological effects of online harassment on victims and organizational responses to such instances. ## 💡 Implications: The research could prompt discussions on the ethics of using personal leverage for cyberbullying and provide insights for organizations to safeguard employees from similar attacks. This work could advocate for more compassionate leadership styles in online platforms. ## ✅ Logical validity: The article questions the logical coherence in the disconnect between Mullenweg's actions and proclaimed values. It identifies potential fallacies in his behavior and offers a critical view of the situation. ## 🎯 Conclusion: In conclusion, the article underscores the significance of upholding social media policies, exposes the problematic behaviors of influential figures like Mullenweg, and highlights the challenges of offering critiques within certain online communities. - Summary: Ben Cook criticizes WordPress creator Matt Mullenweg for allegedly trying to have him fired over his critical views. Cook argues that Mullenweg's actions contradict his claims about valuing user freedom and open expression. He warns that criticizing Mullenweg or his company may lead to personal attacks and intimidation. - URL: https://wpblogger.com/mullenweg-the-coward.php We Cater to Cowards While WordPress creator, Matt Mullenweg, frequently preaches speaks about the [freedoms open source platforms provide users](http://ma.tt/2007/07/price-of-freedom/), it seems he’s not a fan of that freedom extending to those who dare to criticize him. You don’t exactly have to dig deep in the archives of this site to realize I’ve been fairly critical of Mr. Mullenweg. Call me a stickler but I expect someone who claims to put user freedom at the top of his priorities to actually live up to those standards. Instead, Mullenweg has consistently opted to [feed his ego](http://justintadlock.com/archives/2010/07/08/lowercase-p-dangit) and further [personal vendettas](https://wpblogger.com/pressrow-automattic-casualty.php) at the cost of the [very user](http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/13971) [freedoms](http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/you-changed-my-theme-without-my-knowledge) he claims to champion. And while I certainly didn’t expect my [call for his resignation](https://wpblogger.com/matt-should-resign.php) to earn me an invitation to the Mullenweg Christmas dinner, I was honestly shocked at the cowardly reaction it apparently elicited. At the time, I was the SEO Manager for Network Solutions, a company who, among other things offers domain name registration and [WordPress hosting packages](http://www.networksolutions.com/web-hosting/wordpress/index.jsp). Like many other companies, Network Solutions has a social media policy in which employees must clearly disclose their employment and state that their opinions are their own and do not reflect the company. Since I’m so active in social media, I went out of my way to make it abundantly clear at every turn that this site, as well as my Twitter account, were my own. Social Media Disclaimer For the most part, those disclaimers were effective. People realized that my views on anything from politics, to sports, to WordPress were not indicative of Network Solutions’ stance on the matter. (Despite my best efforts to make the St. Louis Cardinals the official sports interest of the company, I failed.) But, when Matt Mullenweg decided he’d had enough of my criticism, he didn’t come to me personally. Instead, as any true freedom loving person would do, he decided to go over my head and raise the issue with my employer. Matt, by his own admission, claimed that my writings here and on Twitter “borders on hate speech and reflects badly on any organization you’re associated with, regardless of any disclaimers you may have.” [](https://wpblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/matt-email.jpg) *(click for full sized image)* **Update***:* While I initially didn’t think this follow up exchange added much to the post, a commenter below prompted me to post the rest of the exchange. *[](https://wpblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/matt-exchange.jpg)* *(click for full sized image)* Now, I wasn’t privy to the conversation that took place, but I have a healthy imagination and can think of a few [topics](http://wordpress.org/hosting/) that [might have come up](http://wpcandy.com/reports/automattic-becomes-domain-registrar). Whatever was discussed, a brief investigation was launched. But, thanks to those lovely disclaimers it was determined that I was abiding with company policy, and my employment (thankfully) continued. On a more personal level, the accusation that my criticisms even remotely resemble hate speech is ludicrous, and that sort of accusation is not only irresponsible, but offensive in its own right. As with any good story, there are several lessons to take away from this episode. First and foremost, please make sure you’re abiding with your company’s social media policy. You never know when it will save your job from a passive-aggressive egomaniac leveling unfounded accusations to your employer behind your back. Secondly, this event continues the disturbing pattern of behavior by Automattic & WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg. Many within the WordPress community refer to Matt as their “benevolent dictator” because he controls pretty much every aspect of the WordPress project (from WordPress.com, to WordPress.org to the WordPress Foundation). However, the kind of bullying, threats, and intimidation displayed in this episode as well as [here](https://wpblogger.com/thesis-war-summary.php), [here](http://matthewlyle.com/wordpress/warning-wordpress-theme-developers/), and [here](http://twitter.com/#!/BillErickson/status/18505238725), are lacking any hint of benevolence. The final, and most unfortunate, lesson of this sad but true story is that unless you’re prepared to be attacked by Matt Mullenweg and the almost cult-like following he’s incubated, don’t criticize Mullenweg, Automattic, or WordPress in any way. All hail King Matt. [](https://wpblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/matt-mullenweg-turtle.jpg) ``` Coward image source: [Miriella](http://www.flickr.com/photos/miriella/3554714772/) ```, Matt Mullenweg Tried to Get Me Fired, Ben Cook, 01hacmwn990nyxfc4zsjkvahxv.