Re:SparkFun Officially Dropping AdaFruit due to CoC Violation
by bawolff on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @11:04PM
(#46627869)
It sounds like the allegations are for things that was be illegal in nature.
I think the expected way to handle something like this would be to write the calm factual email. If that goes nowhere then sue them. I don't think the public airing approach is the right one.
Re:SparkFun Officially Dropping AdaFruit due to CoC Violation
by bccdee on Thursday January 15, 2026 @12:44AM
(#46628521)
Suing is way more expensive and way more hostile than simply airing your grievances in public. And why not? That's what public forums are for. "Do nothing" and "sue them" are not your only options; we are part of a society, not merely party to a legal system.
Re:SparkFun Officially Dropping AdaFruit due to CoC Violation
by rafram on Thursday January 15, 2026 @08:33AM
(#46632283)
It’s difficult to prosecute online harassment, and “hate sites and photoshopped images” aren’t illegal. There’s a right to freedom of speech in the US.
Re:SparkFun Officially Dropping AdaFruit due to CoC Violation
by asdfasvea on Thursday January 15, 2026 @09:40AM
(#46633145)
Further the 'hate-' prefix in an accusation makes it one I immediately tune out.
It's just a manipulative word that lets you incite people while not actually revealing what was said.
Re:SparkFun Officially Dropping AdaFruit due to CoC Violation
by bawolff on Thursday January 15, 2026 @04:50PM
(#46639836)
Slander is illegal, and while not exactly the same thing, there is a lot of overlap.
Depending on the nature of the site, there also might be rules around unfair competition that might be implicated.
Depends what they did. Let's check the forum post…
> they had created and promoted hate sites, photoshopped images, and harassment targeting limor, me, and others at adafruit. this was done on company time, shared, promoted.
Ok yeah if a company is sharing bigoted photoshops of my likeness, yes, I'm gonna demand that they discipline the responsible employees. Obviously.
I don't have any reference point for what "hate sites, photoshopped images, and harassment [meriting HR training]" constitute, but if it's anywhere near as bad as it sounds, sure, escalate the situation and air your dirty laundry in public. This is unacceptable behaviour, and apparently it went on for years. When you're being publicly harassed, you have no duty to indefinitely restrain your response to private, polite emails.