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Programming prodigy passes away at 16

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41–50 of 131 posts

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#41
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bullshit. Utter bullshit. I don't get this angry when commenting here but the disgusting lack of empathy continually expressed on HN really, really gets to me. If you truly felt sorry for the girl, for her family, considered her family's pride for what she accomplished not only for herself but possibly for other kids in Pakistan, then you wouldn't feel the need to point out any of what you've stated. I read the artic…

Your reply makes me sad. I'll try to explain why: Empathy should have nothing to do with your ability to evaluate facts. Empathy has an evil cousin, politically correctness . When politically correctness comes into play, you lose the game. You can't talk about anything with a straight perspective because, you know, somebody might get offended . A 16 years old kid has died. That is a sad fact by itself. If she was the…

You could have at least stated that you felt sorry for the girl's death in your first post. Instead, it sounded more like you were focused on discrediting her skills without heed to the sensitivity of her passing. She might not've been a true prodigy, and you may be fed up with articles like this, but please show some dignity.

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#42
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bullshit. Utter bullshit. I don't get this angry when commenting here but the disgusting lack of empathy continually expressed on HN really, really gets to me. If you truly felt sorry for the girl, for her family, considered her family's pride for what she accomplished not only for herself but possibly for other kids in Pakistan, then you wouldn't feel the need to point out any of what you've stated. I read the artic…

Your reply makes me sad. I'll try to explain why: Empathy should have nothing to do with your ability to evaluate facts. Empathy has an evil cousin, politically correctness . When politically correctness comes into play, you lose the game. You can't talk about anything with a straight perspective because, you know, somebody might get offended . A 16 years old kid has died. That is a sad fact by itself. If she was the…

The reason why it's remarkable (and I use the word literally) is because 16-year-old girls from Pakistan do not start with the same advantages as 16-year-old boys in the US. It's not surprising, given that, if one outcome is ignored and the other is celebrated.

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#43
post #39

I hate to write this, since the tragic happening but really, the hype is widely unjustified. I started programming when I was 8, I know a lot of people that started meddling around with computer around the same age, and I was born a decade before her which, in computer years, is like a century. Everything programming related was a hundred times more difficult to accomplish than it is now - I wrote assembly on a C64,…

What is wrong with you? What does her death have to do with you? That was one of the most disgusting, least human, comments I've ever seen written on HN.

What does her death has to do with you? What does her death has to do with all of us?

What disgusts me is the lack of tact and consideration of editors and maybe her parents - the first are ready to exploit the death of a 16 years old girl to make some uniques, the seconds (I really hope that's not the case) are ready to put their child on the cover for some advertising.

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#44
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bullshit. Utter bullshit. I don't get this angry when commenting here but the disgusting lack of empathy continually expressed on HN really, really gets to me. If you truly felt sorry for the girl, for her family, considered her family's pride for what she accomplished not only for herself but possibly for other kids in Pakistan, then you wouldn't feel the need to point out any of what you've stated. I read the artic…

Your reply makes me sad. I'll try to explain why: Empathy should have nothing to do with your ability to evaluate facts. Empathy has an evil cousin, politically correctness . When politically correctness comes into play, you lose the game. You can't talk about anything with a straight perspective because, you know, somebody might get offended . A 16 years old kid has died. That is a sad fact by itself. If she was the…

You are a true engineer right to the end. Sticking your foot in your mouth and then continually trying to use logic to climb out of the hole you dug for yourself. The next time someone of note passes away, resist the urge to take them down a notch and just keep your mouth shut.

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your reply makes me sad. I'll try to explain why: Empathy should have nothing to do with your ability to evaluate facts. Empathy has an evil cousin, politically correctness . When politically correctness comes into play, you lose the game. You can't talk about anything with a straight perspective because, you know, somebody might get offended . A 16 years old kid has died. That is a sad fact by itself. If she was the…

The reason why it's remarkable (and I use the word literally) is because 16-year-old girls from Pakistan do not start with the same advantages as 16-year-old boys in the US. It's not surprising, given that, if one outcome is ignored and the other is celebrated.

Again, perspective. On average, that's certainly true. In this specific instance, not so. Take a 16 year old boy from the ghetto in the US and compare it to a rich upper caste Pakistani girl. Who has the most advantages?

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#46

I'm going to refrain from commenting on her abilities. One problem I have with "X accomplished person passed away" on the internet is that a free-for-all seems to start, wherein everyone feels qualified to judge that person's accomplishments from behind a monitor. Steve Jobs, whoever, it might seem unfair that just because someone died that the "unworthy" things they did get celebrated. I disagree. What did strike me…

Thank you for this. We are celebrating the life / lamenting the death of the person to happened to accomplish something notable, not the point-accomplishment itself (which will be duplicated/eclipsed).

She had class and a sense of perspective well beyond her years, and which many people fail to achieve over much longer lives.

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your reply makes me sad. I'll try to explain why: Empathy should have nothing to do with your ability to evaluate facts. Empathy has an evil cousin, politically correctness . When politically correctness comes into play, you lose the game. You can't talk about anything with a straight perspective because, you know, somebody might get offended . A 16 years old kid has died. That is a sad fact by itself. If she was the…

You are a true engineer right to the end. Sticking your foot in your mouth and then continually trying to use logic to climb out of the hole you dug for yourself. The next time someone of note passes away, resist the urge to take them down a notch and just keep your mouth shut.

And you're a true manager right to the end, my friend. Making decision with your heart alone and refusing to see logic and data when they're in front of you.

May our paths never cross in real life.

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#48
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know privileged and smart 30 year olds for whom getting a real job or moving out of the house would be a major major accomplishment. This girl was 10. Writing off her accomplishments due to privilege is unfair.

You know sons and daughters of multi-milionairs having problem finding a job and moving out of the house?

I know several, in fact. It's fairly common result of rich parents spoiling their kids.

Re: Programming prodigy passes away at 16

#50
"If you want to do something big in your life, you must remember that shyness is only the mind," she said. "If you think shy, you act shy. If you think confident you act confident. Therefore never let shyness conquer your mind."

Meditating on shyness as a kind of fear

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

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