I've reviewed code that bad, and even muttered invectives about stupidity under my breath, but never let my bewilderment turn into a vicious attack. When I encounter code that's as awful as all that, I ask questions. Do you know of (blank) alternative, did you test this code, are you aware of this consequence. Then, I make a pronouncement; this code is not up to standard and I won't accept it unless the above are fixed, or if it's utterly incomprehensible, I'll say that I cannot see a path forward. Bottom line, the code is defective, there's no reason to make it personal.

If Linus was viewed as less than a god, I think more people in our community would recognize this sort of tirade as ad hominem and they would be ridiculed as such.

I’m bothered by the fact that the linked McSweeney’s essay thinks piranhas live in the ocean.