Yeah, someone check that. But first, some background:
Dating website OkCupid led the witch hunt for Mozilla co-founder Brendan Eich, boycotting the Firefox web browser over Eich’s 2008 donation in support of California’s Prop 8. As soon as Eich resigned as CEO of Mozilla, OkCupid traded in the pitchforks for champagne.
We are pleased that OkCupid’s boycott has brought tremendous awareness to the critical matter of equal rights for all partnerships.
— OkCupid (@okcupid) April 3, 2014
Today’s decision reaffirms Mozilla’s commitment to that cause. We are satisfied that Mozilla will be taking a number of further steps.
— OkCupid (@okcupid) April 3, 2014
Eich also created JavaScript, a scripting language required for the OkCupid website to function.
@mozilla:Turn off javascript on @okcupid? "OkCupid needs JavaScript to function, but you have it disabled." hmmmm pic.twitter.com/DzAH5hx9vj
— Bisonkick (@Bisonkick) April 4, 2014
Morgan Missen, who has worked for Google, Twitter and Foursquare, shared this screenshot of OkCupid code earlier this week:
OkCupid is asking users to boycott anti-gay CEO Brendan Eich's company, yet *requiring* them to use his invention. pic.twitter.com/TWEdAcDgrv
— Morgan Missen (@mm) April 1, 2014
@mm @anildash That's one of the nice things about OSS… writer doesn't get to choose who uses their work.
— Stu Hood (@stuhood) April 1, 2014
@stuhood Firefox & JavaScript are both OSS bearing Brendan Eich's name, the former's just easy to boycott while the latter nearly impossible
— Morgan Missen (@mm) April 1, 2014
And who wants to launch a boycott that’s not “easy,” especially when the bloodthirsty mob has already taken its scalp?
@mm boycotts are about undoing systems that tolerate injustice; there were probably very nice mechanics for the Montgomery bus system.
— Anil Dash (@anildash) April 1, 2014
@anildash Sure, but OkCupid's singling out Brendan Eich—one person—without letting users also boycott the software Eich built his career on.
— Morgan Missen (@mm) April 1, 2014
@benjy @mm my point is, boycotting an institution for rewarding bigotry is a reasonable practice.
— Anil Dash (@anildash) April 1, 2014
@anildash No one said otherwise, just feels weird that OkCupid boycotts the inventor of JavaScript while forcing its users to use JavaScript
— Morgan Missen (@mm) April 1, 2014
Does the OkCupid plan to purge every “homophobic” line of JavaScript from its site?
A friend just told me OKCupid's source code was filled with that homophobic language called JavaScript.
— Paul Kögel (@wakkahari) April 4, 2014
Sure, it won’t be easy, but it’s all about the principle, right, tolerance thugs?
.@okcupid – Says here your site site NEEDS Javascript to function. JS was created by a bigot. Why supports bigots? pic.twitter.com/gzOuWxVoRX
— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) April 4, 2014
@JayCaruso Because @okcupid are #hypocrites. @JohnEkdahl
— Marie Arf (@schwingcat) April 4, 2014
As a @pcpro reader notes, @okcupid makes extensive use of JavaScript, invented by Brendan Eich – the Mozilla CEO they wanted us to boycott
— PC Pro (@pcpro) April 4, 2014
Hey @okcupid, @brendaneich created JavaScript. You might want to rewrite your website so to avoid using it. #PoliticalCorrectCrybabies
— Chris Capaci (@chriscapaci) April 4, 2014
Someone wake me up when OkCupid boycotts JavaScript for being anti-gay.
— Dy̨la̷n͢ Carlsǫn (@YesMeansYes) April 4, 2014
“@reihan: Will people stop using JavaScript because the guy who first developed it made a donation in support of Prop 8?” Will OKcupid?
— Bret Swanson (@JBSay) April 3, 2014
@ScottLofquist @DLoesch OkCupid, which started the inquisition…runs on javascript. guess $$ trumps "equality"#liberalhypocrisy
— Thaiph00n (D) (@Thaiph00n) April 4, 2014
@davewiner Does this mean @Okcupid will stop using Javascript on their website as well since Eich was the inventor? https://t.co/B44RKKCqE1
— Jason (@mainsrc) April 3, 2014
@okcupid STOP USING JAVASCRIPT!!! IMMEDIATELY! Brendan Eich created it… it's FROM THE DEVIL!!!!! #Evil #ERMAHGERD!
— joedeveloper (@joedeveloper) April 3, 2014
Of course I am still going to boycott @okcupid for their use of JavaScript since this is all very rational. #Eich
— Rae Jericho (@NoWealthButLife) April 3, 2014
so OkCupid is going to ban and no longer use javascript right? right?
— Chuck Reynolds (@ChuckReynolds) April 3, 2014
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
Congrats to @okcupid – Now they can focus on their core business of hooking up random people for meaningless, regret-filled sex
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) April 3, 2014
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with an additional tweet.
Related:
‘Bastion of intolerance and punishment’: Tammy Bruce shreds Mozilla for caving to ‘gay gestapo’
‘Should he be impeached?’ A reminder about who had same definition of marriage as ex-Mozilla CEO
‘LOLOLOL’: Mozilla blasted for claim company built on ‘diverse views’
John Ondrasik notices something strange about Firefox after Mozilla CEO resigns