"But notice that arguments about technologies—presumably battling for adoption, social acceptance, and popularity—are not only empirically not about rationality, but definitionally cannot be about rationality. A beginner who knows nothing about programming cannot select an ecosystem or technology based on rational arguments, because they’re removed from the technical context which makes such arguments meaningful. They can only select by second-degree metrics of qualities they care for—popularity, what someone seems to produce with said technology, how quickly they produce it, the unique qualities of that production as opposed to those of others, and so on."
Discussion
Do think the article erects a strawman: "The programmers in the Handmade community had no right to criticize software". Is that what people are really saying?
There are different ways to advocate for change in how we produce software, some more effective than others. If a significant proportion of those who's minds you wish to change are labelling you "toxic", then I'd suggest your approach isn't working.
Someone who is really concerned with change will choose the most effective method, rather than let their feelings of frustration overcome them. If not, then maybe the public outbursts are about sonething else?