In Memoriam: Ian Murdock • Hacker News Board

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#31

Post by vezzy-fnord » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:23 PM UTC

raverbashing wrote: post #16

spb wrote: post #3

Also, for those who weren't previously acquainted: Ian was the "ian" in Debian, the Linux distro he created which is the basis for Ubuntu. He started work at Docker in November, which is why they are publishing this.

> the Linux distro he created which is the basis for Ubuntu I'm sure this sounds as vinyl scratching to a lot of ears Debian stands on its own, though that statement is correct

It's probably the single most ported distribution, from a variety of remixes for desktop, netbook and recovery uses alike to usually being the first target for every microcontroller and single-board.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#32

Post by gist » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:24 PM UTC

samstave wrote: post #11

I too have suffered from abuse from cops here in the bay area - specifically the city of Alameda, and one cop in particular. I also suffer from depression, and have struggled with inappropriate thoughts due to my experience with police. It is sad that he has apparently actually committed suicide - as I would have loved to join him in his fight against state abuse. I wish I would have had the opportunity to work with…

Sorry to hear that would you be willing to describe the abuse in more detail?

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#33

Post by eddieroger » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:25 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.

Unfortunately we don't have anything to go on - he never wrote he promised blog post, and his thread is gone. It's not our story to tell, and he didn't leave one behind. Anything we do is speculative now. Hopefully he left something for his loved ones that they can share and we can run with.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#34

Post by finid » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:25 PM UTC

rdtsc wrote: post #23

[deleted] wrote: post #18

[deleted]

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

It's not gawking. It's trying to find out what happened.

Given who he is, it's the least any interested person would like to do.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#35

Post by sp332 » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:26 PM UTC

finid wrote: post #28

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.

Easiest yes, but hardly the most accurate or sensitive.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#36

Post by jafingi » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:26 PM UTC

Wow, such a tragic loss. One of the reasons why Linux is to widely popular these days (Debian, Ubuntu, etc.).

Amazing work he did - he already did more than many people does in their entire lifetime. Life is fragile, appreciate it :-( Rest in peace, Ian.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#37

Post by bitL » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:27 PM UTC

Rest In Peace Ian! Thanks for Debian!

For the rest of you working on free stuff for humanity - go dark now, the times have changed, don't expose yourself in public. And start lifting!

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#38

Post by kragen » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:28 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.

On the contrary: let's dig up all the links we can so that we can find out who was responsible, and prevent it from ever happening again. Just before he died, Ian had said he was going to devote the rest of his life to fighting police brutality: http://pastebin.com/dX3VSPkM

Not only would we dishonor his memory by not digging up links and making speculations about what happened (did he commit suicide, possibly due to a brain injury from the police beatings? Or was he killed by the police? If so, by whom?), we are also putting ourselves in danger. What happened to Ian could happen to any of us.

Of course we should be sensitive to his family and friends and not traumatize them further. But that's no excuse for leaving the criminals who did this to walk free and kill more of us.

Don't "wait for the family to release more information". Find the information yourself, in Google Cache, on Twitter, wherever you can. It may not be there tomorrow or the day after. And don't wait until people are no longer paying attention. That's a losing public relations strategy. Seize the day.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#39

Post by Nrsolis » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:29 PM UTC

mixmastamyk wrote: post #30

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?

There has to be something else going on when a person is confronted by the police and they decide to arrest you.

I can only imagine that he was agitated somehow and may have been either mentally unstable or intoxicated.

Suicide is not a normal response to being locked up by the police for a few hours.

Re: In Memoriam: Ian Murdock

#40

Post by finid » Wed, Dec 30, 2015, 7:29 PM UTC

mixmastamyk wrote: post #30

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?

That's why we need to get as much info as possible, so we know what let to it.