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Paul Allen has died

cnbc.com

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Re: Paul Allen has died

#91

Post by scop »

minimaxir wrote: post #11

2 weeks ago: https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/1046864324310982668 > Some personal news: Recently, I learned the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma I battled in 2009 has returned. I’ve begun treatment & my doctors are optimistic that I will see a good result. Appreciate the support I’ve received & count on it as I fight this challenge Just now: https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/1051958128885940226

I must admit that this news has shaken me quite a bit.

I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma six months ago. I'm a young guy, married, and with toddlers at home. The initial tumor was removed and I am now in the "waiting period" to see if it spread and if additional tumors present themselves. It's a very good prognosis, but hot dog if this news hasn't hit close to home, especially considering this fun fact:

My six-month PET scan is tomorrow.

We shall see what they find. In the meantime Paul Allen and his family will be in my prayers.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#92

Post by [deleted] »

sxates wrote: post #64
minimaxir wrote: post #11

2 weeks ago: https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/1046864324310982668 > Some personal news: Recently, I learned the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma I battled in 2009 has returned. I’ve begun treatment & my doctors are optimistic that I will see a good result. Appreciate the support I’ve received & count on it as I fight this challenge Just now: https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/1051958128885940226

> Just now: https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/1051958128885940226 If my death is noteworthy, I really hope I'm not eulogized with a bunch of animated gifs of sad faces.

[deleted]

Re: Paul Allen has died

#93

Post by koiz »

dpq wrote: post #51

When I was a kid, programmers - the elders, those whose lives and achievements had been described in all my introductory books - seemed to be immortal, because all these people who changed the world and created the wonderful universe of computers and software - they were all alive then (at least those I knew and cared about). That time is long gone now... and we are no longer immortal. We have lost so many of our kin…

At least the ideas are immortal.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#94

Post by prawn »

gist wrote: post #80
bigbang wrote: post #55

Wow, so sad. Like Jobs, he dying young is a loss to humanity.

What? Loss to humanity? Sorry but he was no Steve Jobs or even close. He exited Microsoft in 1982 and essentially spent money that he made off of Microsoft (to do some good things let's say if you forget the patent trolling). Not minimizing what he did that was positive but don't compare it to Steve who actually did 'change the world' (no Jobs fanboy but need to point out what he did was way more than Paul Allen). Se…

What a time to get pedantic.

A space company, half a billion into brain research, tens of millions more in other fields, environment efforts, multiple sports teams, cultural investments, etc. That's a fair loss, and I think the first few qualify adding "to humanity" as well.

Donated $2 billion in his lifetime.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Allen#Philanthropy

Re: Paul Allen has died

#95

Post by 1auralynn »

This is so sad. I met him once when my company was doing some work for Vulcan and I was impressed that his manner was so understated but SHARP, he just "got" things very quickly.

My favorite anecdote from that time period was someone telling me that the first time they met him they were seated next to each other at dinner and he turned and asked "So, what's your favorite shark?"

(I mean I think it was at a dinner for something to do with the ocean/sharks so not totally crazy, but still - charming)

RIP

Re: Paul Allen has died

#96

Post by ticmasta »

gist wrote: post #67

I am guessing that most people here have apparently forgotten about the patent troll aspect of Paul Allen: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100827/12001710802.shtml Now I am sure there are those that will think it's in bad taste to bring this up. However I am not saying this to family or friends at a funeral. I am merely raising it so people can stop lionizing him because he was a co-founder of Microsoft. https://…

So, what's the name of your hero? I guarantee I can dig up some less-than-noble aspect about them, or cast a past action in negative light. People are pretty complicated, multi-faceted creatures. We're allowed to be grateful for their positive contributions even though we're all teeming with flaws.

No one here is paying tribute because the man was a literal saint, and I've yet to see anyone praise him specifically for building Microsoft. They're simply thankful for the actions of a man that resonate directly with each individual; it's a pretty common thing to so when someone passes.

So, thanks for the heads up, though I'm pretty sure anyone familiar with Allen's numerous organizations, business and charities is also aware of his less noble pursuits. There will be plenty of opportunity to focus on the negative aspects but the polite thing to do at this time is stay quiet.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#97

Post by CamperBob2 »

gist wrote: post #67

I am guessing that most people here have apparently forgotten about the patent troll aspect of Paul Allen: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100827/12001710802.shtml Now I am sure there are those that will think it's in bad taste to bring this up. However I am not saying this to family or friends at a funeral. I am merely raising it so people can stop lionizing him because he was a co-founder of Microsoft. https://…

(Shrug) He did a lot of good things and a few bad things, like most of us. Because he was extremely wealthy, though, the "lot of good things" that he did amounted to a significant boon to humanity. It's a very safe bet that anyone who lives in the Seattle area has benefited from his philanthropy in one respect or another, probably several.

I don't have much use for patent trolls, or (for that matter) people who give six-figure sums to Republican PACs looking to maintain control of the House. It seems weird for a philanthropist who is also a cancer survivor to donate to people who fight scientific, environmental, and humanitarian progress at every turn. But this is one of those cases where it really is more appropriate to remember his contributions that almost everyone regardless of political or technical persuasion would consider good. We are unquestionably worse off without Paul Allen, especially here in the PNW.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#98

Post by TaupeRanger »

rdlecler1 wrote: post #66

I'm sure most of us were envious of his life, but almost no one would trade places with him today. It goes to show that health really is more valuable than money.

What a weird thing to say. Everyone will die. It makes no sense to point out that no one would want to trade places with a dying or dead person. Of course not. Meaningfulness of life is more valuable than length of life.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#99

Post by [deleted] »

oliveshell wrote: post #82
diminoten wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not? It's for sure a meme, but it's used sincerely in many places as well. Let's all mourn in our own ways, and not judge others for mourning in theirs.

In case you really can’t see why: because it’s not actually respectful. It’s a dumb meme, it has nothing to do with Paul Allen, and– despite what you might think– a lot of people won’t know what it means. Humor can be a powerful tool for coping with grief, but something like this reads as glib and disrespectful in a forum that holds itself to a higher standard of discourse than the broader internet.

[deleted]
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