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Automattic Turns Against WordPress Community Itself - adtechsolutions

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Automattic Turns Against WordPress Community Itself


Automattic has announced that it is minimizing support for the WordPress.org CMS project, using words and phrases that frame the withdrawal of support as a positive change to make WordPress stronger, while blaming WP Engine for its decision to minimize contributions.

The entire statement uses ambiguous, pretextual statements and passive-aggressive language to portray itself as a victim of WP Engine and frame the withdrawal of support as an inevitable consequence of WPE’s lawsuit against Automattic, saying:

“In addition, we have to spend a lot of time and money to defend against legal attacks launched by WP Engine and funded by Silver Lake, a large private company.

…We have made the decision to reallocate resources due to WP Engine lawsuits.

…This legal action takes away significant time and energy that could otherwise be focused on supporting the growth and health of WordPress.

…We remain hopeful that WP Engine will reconsider this legal attack, allowing us to refocus our efforts on contributions that benefit the broader WordPress ecosystem.”

At no point in the statement does Automattic acknowledge its role in creating the conflict, instead portraying itself as being forced down the path of Mullenweg’s self-described “nuclear” war with WP Engine, when in fact there was always time to engage in constructive dialogue.

Automattic is turning against the WordPress community itself

The striking feature of Automattic’s statement is that this is the first time it has pointed the finger at the WordPress community itself as part of the reason for pulling resources. It puts the word “community” in quotes in a way that seems to undermine the legitimacy of critics, which has the subtext of portraying critics as false members of the WordPress community.

There is an undertone of disdain to the criticism against Mullenweg, which, to be fair, began as timid expressions of hope that things would work themselves out, then gradually escalated to outright calls for a fresh, new governance structure that reflects the diversity of the entire WordPress community . and a move away from the so-called “benevolent dictatorship” of Matt Mullenweg.

Automattic’s statements took aim at the WordPress community itself:

“We’ve also faced heavy criticism and even personal attacks against a number of Automatticians from members of the ‘community’ who want Matt and others to withdraw from the project.

…Automatics who contributed to the core will instead focus on profitable projects within Automattic, such as WordPress.com, Pressable, WPVIP, Jetpack, and WooCommerce. Members of the ‘community’ said that working on things like this should count as a contribution to WordPress.”

Using Doublespeak

Finally, Automattic’s statement uses language that seems to cross the line into doublespeak. Doublespeak is the use of language in a way that is deceptive and manipulative as opposed to a rhetorical approach that seeks to persuade. Doublespeak obfuscates and distorts reality and obscures the true meaning and intent of a statement.

Example of double talk:

“In order to recalibrate and ensure our efforts are as effective as possible, Automattic will reduce its sponsored contributions to the WordPress project. This is not a step we take lightly. Now is the time to regroup, think, and strategically plan how Automatticians can continue to contribute in ways that secure the future of WordPress for generations to come. “

Portraying support withdrawals as a way to ensure “the future of WordPress for generations to come” is manipulative and hides the reality that these actions have the opposite effect.

He also claims:

“This realignment is not the end, but a new beginning—one that will ultimately strengthen the foundations of WordPress.”

This is an example of how Automattic’s statement portrays the actual weakening of WordPress.org as a way to strengthen it.

There are many other examples of how the statement portrays Automattic as the victim, WP Engine as the aggressor, and the WordPress community itself as complicit in undermining itself.

Read the statement here:

Aligning Automattic Sponsored Contributions with WordPress

Featured image by Shutterstock/Wirestock Creators



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