In Memoriam: Ian Murdock • Hacker News Board

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#21

Post by goddess_divine » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:15 PM UTC

My heart goes out to his friends and family. The pain he was in must have been unbearable. I'm so sad that he felt this was the best way to find peace. It's a great loss to the community. hugs

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#22

Post by aikah » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:16 PM UTC

My thoughts go to his friends and family. I don't want to speculate on what happened I don't think it is the time right now. Thanks for all your contribution Ian Murdock.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#23

Post by rdtsc » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:17 PM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #18

[deleted]

I say maybe not doing that. If someone really, really wants to gawk, let them search for it.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#24

Post by yen223 » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:17 PM UTC

minimaxir wrote: post #2

Previous thread about Ian Murdock: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10803924 This news is, tragically, new information. :(

> [dead] “I'm committing suicide tonight”

Seems a tad insensitive...

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#25

Post by poikniok » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:19 PM UTC

rdtsc wrote: post #19

Please let's not dig up links or make speculations about what happened. He was the founder of the Debian project, let's remember him for that or other contributions he's made to the tech community. Debian has grown to be one of the most well known and popular Linux distribution, used in production, in the cloud, as the base for SteamOS, Ubuntu and other projects. It is and was a major part of what made Linux popular.

I disagree. It seems he might have died fighting for a cause. We might do well to serve his memory by thinking about and understanding his cause. To do otherwise would be to admit that we can change nothing.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#26

Post by mrschwabe » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:20 PM UTC

kragen wrote: post #6

Quasimoto3000 wrote: post #5

Is this at all related to his statement on suicide and police brutality? What was the cause of death? Source: http://techaeris.com/2015/12/28/debian-founder-ian-murdocks-...

It's a good bet that, when a young person in a highly-developed country dies and the announcements about them do not give a cause of death, they killed themselves. Given that he was white and had announced an intention to kill himself the night before, it's almost an open-and-shut case.

This seems to have unfolded rapidly and the details are very light so I would like to suggest that no, this is not 'almost' an open and shut case.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#27

Post by spb » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:21 PM UTC

poikniok wrote: post #25

rdtsc wrote: post #19

Please let's not dig up links or make speculations about what happened. He was the founder of the Debian project, let's remember him for that or other contributions he's made to the tech community. Debian has grown to be one of the most well known and popular Linux distribution, used in production, in the cloud, as the base for SteamOS, Ubuntu and other projects. It is and was a major part of what made Linux popular.

I disagree. It seems he might have died fighting for a cause. We might do well to serve his memory by thinking about and understanding his cause. To do otherwise would be to admit that we can change nothing.

I think we can stand to wait for those closest to him to release more information when they're ready.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#28

Post by finid » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:21 PM UTC

rdtsc wrote: post #19

Please let's not dig up links or make speculations about what happened. He was the founder of the Debian project, let's remember him for that or other contributions he's made to the tech community. Debian has grown to be one of the most well known and popular Linux distribution, used in production, in the cloud, as the base for SteamOS, Ubuntu and other projects. It is and was a major part of what made Linux popular.

Well, we should at least try to find out what happened. It's the natural thing to do, and the easiest way to do that, is to dig up links related to the matter, so we know the true story.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#29

Post by mbubb » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:21 PM UTC

rdtsc wrote: post #19

Please let's not dig up links or make speculations about what happened. He was the founder of the Debian project, let's remember him for that or other contributions he's made to the tech community. Debian has grown to be one of the most well known and popular Linux distribution, used in production, in the cloud, as the base for SteamOS, Ubuntu and other projects. It is and was a major part of what made Linux popular.

Excellent points. Hard not to rage at this though. It is beyond distressing.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#30

Post by mixmastamyk » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:21 PM UTC

Hmm, I don't understand this story and links here. Why would a very successful person with family commit suicide over police-brutality? No comprendo.

The appropriate response would be to get even through a court of law, or even paying to have some legs broken if it were justified.

Perhaps he was depressed or mentally ill?