My full take on the ‘bulshit’ uproar around the @yoast Black Friday ad. Here goes.
The way I see it, these are the relevant facts:
- a for profit company put an ad on WP dashboards
- the AD was an ad, no misunderstanding possible, no unclear language, no misleading info

- the AD didn’t result in website mulfunctioning and it didn’t prevent users from accessing/using their info
- the AD didn’t use inflammatory language; it wasn’t violent, offensive, divisive or racist in any way, it was a straightforward ad

- however, the AD caused discomfort in users, and as soon as that was reported, it was swiftly removed
- the CEO of the company very publically explained and apologized
- she didn’t try to excuse their behavior, she straightforwardly apologized

- also, she didn’t back down from criticism even when it became borderline sexist (in the ‘can I speak to your boss?’ kind of sexism)

At this point, any professional with hobbies, loved ones, a job to do, would reply: “fair enough, don’t do it again” and MOVE. ON.

Instead, Twitter got inundated with outraged essays on capitalism, the ethics of for-profit companies working with open-source software, and cries of ”too late, not enough”. I had to go and look @yoast up to make sure they weren’t employing children in underdeveloped countries.

I think THIS is bullshit. This disproportionate rage over a removed ad is funny to look at from the real world but is also bullshit.

Or you could argue my opinion is bullshit, and that’s the beauty of free speech.