For numerous reasons, PHP lists in general tend to better at bitching everyone and his mother than providing a place to actually discuss a problem or a proposal. I’m not really a calm person and I don’t need much to loose my legendary "diplomacy". However I always stay respectful even I could say one thing or another in a more sensible way.

A must read about OSS is the "Producing Open Source Software" written By Karl Fogel. One chapter covers nearly all problems that php Internals is experiencing. The main points would be:

• Nip Rudeness in the Bud: you should maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward rude or insulting behavior in its forums
• Avoid Private Discussions

No need to say that these rules should apply to IRC as well. You may think while reading the mailing lists that a certain level has been reached, what happens on IRC is even worst. Another chapter can be very interesting: Social and Political Infrastructure (and related). Mixing paid developers, volunteers or ambitious developers (as in need of an ego or career booster) is not an easy thing, but it should be possible (dreaming?).

I have a lot to say about PHP and my current feelings for this project and its "community", a good adviser told me once to take more time before posting something, He is right, most of the times I simply forgot. Anyway, I may need again a couple of months away from the php politics to have an objective view, these two days being bitched on this list killed all the coolness I’ve accumulated in the past two months .

Summer is a good time for good resolutions, my first one is to stay away from PHP politics (but not hacking!).