delius

Sure, we've expressed them in the wrong way at times, taking stabs at people for having a different opinion, acting with the sublety of a heard of buffalo. So we're human. And we care. If you've built your business on a piece of software, you don't want to see it die. If you have spent hours building up a competency in a product, you're likely to feel betrayed if you find out it might never pay off -- for your hobby, for your own use or for your customers. So hard words get spoken and written, to emphasize the importance of the issue. In a community of friends, like in any family, you sometimes get away with that -- sometimes, you don't.

However, not speaking your mind is not a solution. It's just a polite way of giving up.

It's the community's duty to make sure Joomla progresses. We can't pass that off to committees, teams, groups or clans. Joomla is what we make it. Noone is obliged to chip in, commit code or write an extension to have an opinion about it. As long as you make clear what your angle is, your remark should be welcome. A healthy community welcomes new ideas and critique. Your opinion matters.

On the other hand, noone has the right to stop progress from happening. Whatever instrument of the few gets elected or appointed to focus the requests of the many, it must serve the community -- not the other way around. Those who are chosen to personally determine the evolution of Joomla have given proof of their commitment and capability, and more likely than not have contributed significantly before getting the chance to participate directly. But if they are ineffective, they must step down. In most cases, it never comes to that -- truly great people get frustrated when they are expected to so stuff but cannot seem to do it.

How much longer are we going to sing Melanie's song ? Claim back your Joomla.