I am not sure this merits being on the front page of HN. The majority of the content here describes, in lurid detail, the many hardships and controversies of a man who was obviously unwell. There is no redeeming value to this blow-by-blow of his online posts, no matter how incindiery. It reads like a tabloid.
Let him rest in peace. Mods, let's place something more productive on the front page.
Although yes, much of it reads like a tabloid. It's the closest thing most people will have as an interaction with this guy.
I think it'd be more useful to highlight the symptoms of mental illness and how the community (to a large extent) encouraged him to become _worse_. I also found the article interesting as it did cover the saga of TempleOS, which pretty much everyone agrees is a technical solo achievement
Rather than discussing some of Terry Davis' more unfortunate statements... he was clearly sick, brilliant, and like many of us somewhere in between.
I personally feel for the guy as I know people (and family members) with schizophrenia. Managing the symptoms is all you can do, and just about the worst thing that can happen is constant encouragement to the fantasy, which is what happened.
As a community we are more prone to both accepting and also aiding people with mental health issues, without assisting them or addressing the issue. I think this post highlights this, much of what Terry said was very jarring (it was to me), but at the same time having understanding goes a long way. Guiding them towards a better, perhaps better choice (getting help vs drugs)
Anyway, I find the story of Terry Davis a sad one. Brilliant, but troubled. It can happen to literally anyone reading this, so try to remember to treat others how you'd like to be treated.
And here we once more have the old story on genius and mental disease going together.
While it is sad that someone like him didn't get the appropriate treatment (or even if current ones would have worked for him), we might have never heard of his genius or it might have been hidden in a satellite attitude control algorithm somewhere.
memset|7 years ago
Let him rest in peace. Mods, let's place something more productive on the front page.
lettergram|7 years ago
Although yes, much of it reads like a tabloid. It's the closest thing most people will have as an interaction with this guy.
I think it'd be more useful to highlight the symptoms of mental illness and how the community (to a large extent) encouraged him to become _worse_. I also found the article interesting as it did cover the saga of TempleOS, which pretty much everyone agrees is a technical solo achievement
viraptor|7 years ago
This seems much better. Submitted instead at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18996057
lettergram|7 years ago
I personally feel for the guy as I know people (and family members) with schizophrenia. Managing the symptoms is all you can do, and just about the worst thing that can happen is constant encouragement to the fantasy, which is what happened.
As a community we are more prone to both accepting and also aiding people with mental health issues, without assisting them or addressing the issue. I think this post highlights this, much of what Terry said was very jarring (it was to me), but at the same time having understanding goes a long way. Guiding them towards a better, perhaps better choice (getting help vs drugs)
Anyway, I find the story of Terry Davis a sad one. Brilliant, but troubled. It can happen to literally anyone reading this, so try to remember to treat others how you'd like to be treated.
For reference: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/i...
tptacek|7 years ago
haasted|7 years ago
mrcsparker|7 years ago
incadenza|7 years ago
DanFeldman|7 years ago
raverbashing|7 years ago
While it is sad that someone like him didn't get the appropriate treatment (or even if current ones would have worked for him), we might have never heard of his genius or it might have been hidden in a satellite attitude control algorithm somewhere.
adamnemecek|7 years ago