Comments on: Inc Hit Piece

By: Steven Buehler

Steven Buehler — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 12:59:20 +0000

I stopped trusting mainstream journalism a long time ago, because the ultimate objective is eyeballs. The more eyeballs, the more advertising revenue, so write stuff that attracts eyeballs.

By: Automattic Operating System | Matt Mullenweg

Automattic Operating System | Matt Mullenweg — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 22:15:08 +0000

[…] where we covered a lot of great topics for entrepreneurs but almost none of it made it into the weird hit piece they published, however since both the journalist and I had recording of the interview I’ve decided to adapt […]

By: John Parker

John Parker — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 03:02:43 +0000

Matt, I’m sorry they did this to you, taking advantage of somebody’s good nature, openness and willingness to be vulnerable is really low.

I might be wrong but I think in this line you mean WPF’s: “This is super clear in WPE’s legal filings, in the about pages of the respective websites, by talking to anyone who understands this.”

By: Tunde Sanusi

Tunde Sanusi — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 13:37:42 +0000

Reading Matt article here provides better clarity to the article that was published on Inc. The world would become a better place if publishers actually publish the right contents instead of “selectively” choosing words and contents thus making the article bias.

Being bias is why some people often do not trust some bloggers due to their clickbait.

By: Professor Spae

Professor Spae — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:32:19 +0000

Those literate inaccuracies were sloppy though, and does make you question their intentions. They shouldn’t waste time on writing such long form if it’s just going to multiply their mistakes. Lie after lie after lie. And yet I found the article generally truthful and gentle in it’s honestly. The truth can hurt, but I wouldn’t call it a hit piece.

Merry Christmas Matt and Happy New Year

By: DJ Johnny Medley

DJ Johnny Medley — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:28:48 +0000

If that’s their best shot…well…Merry Christmas! Your reservoir of goodwill is rather deep, amassed over decades. Rock the WP creed and fly. WP-4-Life!!!

By: Derick Payne

Derick Payne — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 15:18:43 +0000

I share your frustration with media bias and the unrealistic expectations often placed on open-source maintainers. As the owner of an open-source development company and WordPress agency, I see firsthand how much work goes into creating and maintaining free software. It’s disheartening when users, who contribute nothing financially, turn hostile because they expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter.

Meanwhile, entities like WP Engine capitalise on the WordPress ecosystem—developed by countless contributors—without proportionate reinvestment in the project. This imbalance undercuts the principles of open source. It’s made worse by sloppy journalism that fails to fact-check details like company valuations or correctly attribute trademark ownership. Accuracy matters, primarily when representing the work of communities that pour their time and passion into free, shared resources.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 16:12:04 +0000

The usual dissident/crybully voices are too loud right now, but lots of people support you. As the activists move on to another crusade, you will stand tall and proud and victorious.

By: Misha Osinovskiy

Misha Osinovskiy — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 20:28:29 +0000

Having followed Matt for over a decade, after reading the Ink article, I thought that his thoughtfulness and kindness still came through.

Seen the picture of you with your eyes closed typing at your desk. I just thought – wow – he must be really concentrating and typing a really thoughtful message.

I appreciate the call out that Ink uses a headless front end, and what I find funny is that I had to read their article in Safari reader mode, because their ads cover maybe 65% of the screen while I try to read the article.

Thank you for this post and straightening out some of the facts that were twisted in up in the article. There is definitely a tone there that tries to paint Matt in a questionable way.

I would like to say, I support Matt and I believe he will prevail when all the dust settles.

By: halac

halac — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:50:41 +0000

The problem is you thought of The Atlantic as “a better publication”.

By: Charlie Stanley

Charlie Stanley — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 07:37:24 +0000

Matt, I read the Inc. article and out of curiosity, I decided to make a hop over to your blog and found this insightful. I went through a similar situation with a journalist from my local statewide paper in Oregon.

We are a nimble group of 40 that runs a web agency that is largely inspired by Automattic’s decentralized culture. Automattic also inspired us to get certified as a Most Loved Workplace.

Thanks for all you do for the WordPress community. Keep at it!

By: Peter Shaw

Peter Shaw — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:57:39 +0000

Yes it’s a hit piece but some of your behaviour is nevertheless poor.

The most overt disgrace is the fact that as far as anyone can tell you own the WordPress.org domain. Is this really still the case and when are you going to transfer it to the foundation?

By: Flotsam

Flotsam — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 04:07:44 +0000

As Adlai Stevenson put it so succinctly, an editor is someone who separates the wheat from the chaff and then prints the chaff.

By: Steven Gliebe

Steven Gliebe — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 01:07:00 +0000

Wait, the pineapple thing didn’t come up?

By: Steven Gliebe

Steven Gliebe — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 01:05:14 +0000

A journalist’s choice photos do say a lot. If Fox News shows a photo of Barack Obama, he’s probably smoking. If CNN shows one, he looks like he belongs on the cover of GQ.

Journalism is for the most part entertainment or persuasion. Not exactly a noble profession these days.

By: Daniel Baldini

Daniel Baldini — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:40:41 +0000

You still look good.