Restore Trust – An open letter to the WordPress community and Matt

Dear lovely human who cares about open-source and its freedom,

How has your sleep been recently? It’s again a night, I can’t sleep well. Many thoughts keeping me up at night. Thoughts and conversations running wild in my head. Did you see the movie “Inside out 2”? The current accumulation of my feelings reminds me of the scene where the character “Anxiety” is running around the console and can’t stop. That is why I am reaching out to you today. We need to talk! And I need a hug!

Yes, I feel hurt as well, as many of my dear friends online have expressed publicly or in private. I feel hurt by noticing messages disappearing in Slack channels and seeing long-term contributors being banned or blocked after raising concerns. The toxicity on social media has also been distressing.

As an empath, I also feel the pain of the collective. It pains me physically as well. This may contribute to sleepless nights. 

For almost 15 years, I’ve poured my heart and soul as an active contributor into this project we all love. WordPress has been more than just software to me – it’s been a home, a passion, and a community. 

In about four months, I’ll turn 50 and all of my children are considered as adults, with my youngest turning 18 this month. I grew up on a small farm in rural Germany in a very down-to-earth family, and I learned the value of hard work and authenticity. I don’t have an academic background or “speak corporate”, but I am always curious, willing to learn and want to make a difference. In retrospective – 15 years ago – I see myself emerging into the world of technology whilst breastfeeding and parenting, working part-time in various capacities and being a „single“ married (trucker’s) wife, surviving a dirty divorce, smear campaigns, dealing with serious illness and almost death. The wonderful WordPress community always had my back, and I am eternally grateful for that.

I’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of changes, conflicts, and, of course, innovations. I’ve seen the WordPress project grow from a relatively small open-source initiative to a global force that now powers over 43% of the web. I have used WordPress since its first release. I was there when b2/Cafelog was forked into that software we all know today as “WordPress”. I nurtured WordPress alongside raising my five children and watched it growing and maturing. 

But today, I write to you with a heavy heart, yet also with hope for our future. As someone deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIBDEIB DEIB stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.) principles, I see a lot of those efforts made by many over the years towards an inclusive community tossed away. This hurts! 

Yet, amidst this chaos, I believe we have an opportunity. An opportunity to address the underlying issues that have brought us to this point – namely, the economic and social sustainability of our project.

For too long, we’ve relied on the passion and goodwill of volunteers, while critical contributor roles remain underfunded. This imbalance is not sustainable. It’s time we have an honest conversation about how we value and support the work that keeps WordPress thriving.

Yes, recent actions within our community by the project leadership have been deeply troubling. But rather than focusing on individuals or assigning blame, let’s channel our energy into constructive solutions. We have the power to rebuild trust through unity, compassion, and rational problem-solving.

I propose we focus on three key areas:

1. Sustainable Funding Models: Let’s explore ways to ensure critical contributor roles are adequately supported, whether through community funding, corporate sponsorships, or innovative revenue-sharing models. Let’s learn from other open-source projects with proper funding solutions.
2. Governance Reform: It’s time to revisit our governance structure to ensure it reflects the diverse needs and voices of our global community and keeps the project leadership accountable. We need checks and balances that protect against unilateral decisions and promote transparency.
3. Community Healing: We must create spaces for open dialogue, conflict resolution, and rebuilding trust. @Matt, it’s important that platforms like Make WordPress Slack remain open for all contributors. Consistent application of the Community Code of Conduct, including for leadership, helps maintain trust and transparency.

I know we’re hurting. I feel it too. But we are resilient. We’ve faced challenges before and emerged stronger. By focusing on these core issues and working together with empathy and determination, we can create a more sustainable, equitable, and vibrant WordPress ecosystem.

Let’s move forward not with rage or resignation, but with hope and a commitment to positive change. WordPress has always been more than just one person or company – it’s all of us. And together, we have the power to shape its future.

I invite you all to join in this conversation. Share your ideas, your concerns, and your hopes. Let’s build a WordPress community that truly reflects the diversity, creativity, and collaborative spirit that has always been at its heart.

Open Letter to Matt Mullenweg

Dear Matt,

We have known each other in person for over 10 years now. We have spoken occasionally at WordCamps and if you remember, the overarching topic was always about funding contributors and how to be more inclusive for those who are not as privileged. You know me as a balanced person who cares deeply and keeps conversation on a constructive and professional level.

The recent events have shaken our community to its core. Yes, it has been nuclear and has left a lot of torched earth. Please allow me to question your intention of burning down everything you have built and risk unbearable collateral damage. 

Many of the contributors (majority unpaid) who have dedicated years of to WordPress feel hurt, confused, and uncertain about the future. Those who always believed in the power of open source and the strength of our diverse community. Now, more than ever, we need to come together and rebuild the trust that has been damaged.

I want to acknowledge the immense pressure you must be under. Leading a project as vast and impactful as WordPress is no small feat, and the weight of responsibility must be immense. Your passion for WordPress and your desire to protect it are clear. However, the recent actions and words have left many who care deeply feeling alienated and questioning their place in this ecosystem we’ve all worked so hard to build.

While you may view your actions as necessary to protect WordPress, I encourage you to reflect on whether these approaches align with the collaborative spirit that has guided the project since its inception. 

Remember, you are not alone; we are all here to support and work alongside you for the sustainability and growth of WordPress.

Here are some thoughts on how you can work on rebuilding the trust:

1. Consider hiring an external, professional PR team and actively engage with their guidance. Avoid actions like blocking users or banning contributors who are raising concerns, as these can exacerbate tensions and hinder open communication.
2. Publish a call for an interim governance board working group on Make/Project to elaborate on a governance structure all parties can live with. It is not about removing you as a project lead but working alongside you to stabilize the contributor churn and mediate. The contributor guidelines are there for a reason. Those apply to you as well.
3. Embrace your own advice to ‘kill them with kindness’ towards all members of the community. Understanding the diverse experiences and challenges faced by contributors can provide valuable insights. I’m available to offer perspective if you’d find it helpful.

Matt, your vision and leadership have been instrumental in making WordPress what it is today. We need that visionary spirit now more than ever, but tempered with empathy, understanding, and a willingness to listen and adapt.

Let’s turn this moment of crisis into an opportunity for growth, learning, and recommitment to the values that make WordPress and open source so powerful.

With hope and determination,

Birgit Olzem aka CoachBirgit
A person who cares deeply!

Simplified TL;DR:

Birgit Olzem, who has been using WordPress for many years, is very concerned about recent issues in the community. Messages are disappearing, and long-time contributors are being banned when they speak up. There’s also a lot of negativity on social media, which makes her and others feel hurt.

She believes it’s time to fix these problems together. She suggests focusing on three main points:

1. Supporting Contributors: Find ways to properly fund and support the people who work hard on WordPress.
2. Improving Leadership: Change how the WordPress open-source project is managed so that everyone’s voice is heard and leaders are responsible for their actions.
3. Healing the Community: Create safe spaces for open talks, solving conflicts, and rebuilding trust among everyone.

Birgit also addresses Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder and project lead of WordPress. She appreciates his work but asks him to think about how recent actions might be hurting the community spirit. She offers ideas like getting professional help with public relations, improving governance, and being kind to all members.

She invites everyone to join the conversation, share their thoughts, and work together to make WordPress a stronger, fairer, and more welcoming community that reflects its core values.