To illustrate the point here is a 'complex' email from him on the 16th: https://lkml.org/lkml/2012/5/19/97

Now here is him on an un-related issue apologising: https://lkml.org/lkml/2012/5/21/230

For linus the github 'discussion' was an everyday thing. He speaks his mind and will apologise if he is wrong, such is the order of the day on the kernel mailing list.