Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

sdfo.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

181–190 of 272 posts

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#181

Post by pc86 »

squigz wrote: post #131
Ntrails wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's far from "living with dignity", even if the body is still physically capable. It would be abhorrent if you understood what was going on, but if you did you wouldn't be in that state. I'm not sure whether in general terms Dementia is as traumatic for the sufferer as the observer who attaches value to a historical person (who for all intents and purposes is gone )

Out of curiosity, have you seen dementia first-hand, or are you just making academic assumptions?

Having first-hand experience from a care perspective doesn't give anyone any more insight into what's going on from a biological or mental standpoint.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#182

Post by mangamadaiyan »

nottorp wrote: post #177
mangamadaiyan wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do I hear the librarian going "Ook"? Sir Terry must be turning in his grave. Edit: Note -- I confused Ringworld with Discworld, as pointed out by rowyourboat below.

But the "AI" recommendation does sound like it came from a Discworld book.

On that note, I really wish someone would name their AI after Bergholt Stuttley a.k.a Bloody Stupid Johnson.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#183

Post by ProllyInfamous »

Daniel Hayes' only other published book is a non-fiction biography of Billy Milligan, a free man who walks among us, responsible for multiple murders; Billy's multiple personalities were neat to explore, particularly his alter-ego "David, the Keeper of Hate" [I can relate].

----

Algernon's funeral literally made me cry the first time reading, and still ruminates fumy tears to this day.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#184

Post by ProllyInfamous »

badRNG wrote: post #152
nanolith wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For sure, if you can trust your partner to assist you with this, and if you can guarantee that your partner will not face legal consequences, this would be a great option. Dementia poses a legal wrinkle, in that in many jurisdictions, assisted suicide requires consent at the time of the procedure. In many states in the US, especially in the south, assisted suicide is a boogeyman that runs against prevalent religious…

I'm fairly certain in the US you cannot legally consent to being killed.

Not true. I helped my mother fulfill her wishes, and faced no prosecution. My lawyer helped.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#185

Post by IggleSniggle »

sorokod wrote: post #37
myth2018 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an interesting insight. I didn't notice that Charlie's trajectory also works as an allegory for the regular mental decline of the average person

Charlie's trajectory may be your trajectory, not as an allegory. You may be that average person.

It wouldn't be allegory if it didn't apply to the majority of the bell curve. I'm not sure why you say "not an allegory." If Flowers for Algernon wasn't a story with something to teach us about our own lives, then I don't think so many of us would find it interesting.

The only reason some people escape this fate is that they die too young.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#186

Post by ProllyInfamous »

msgilligan wrote: post #126

"I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life." Regardless of one's political opinion of Ronald Reagan, his letter announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis is relevant and poignant. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/reagans/ronald-reagan/reagans-...

Nancy Reagan was a pretty decent president [for Ronnie's 2nd term, probably its entirety]. Not my favorite oligarchy figureheads, but definitely not the worst. May they rest in peace.

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#187

Post by ajmurmann »

abraxas wrote: post #165
ajmurmann wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the book add significant new ideas or is it just more explicit about the consequences? I generally love scifi for the ideas much more so than for story and am torn between the book and the short story.

The main thrust of the story (the main sci-fi component) is contained in both. But it is fleshed out better in the full book. However, neither is a story that contains a ton of novel Sci-Fi ideas. For that I would direct you to stories and books by Greg Egan.

Thanks! Yep, Egan is one of my favorites

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#188

Post by ProllyInfamous »

eismcc wrote: post #51

After my class read this book in high school, we wrote the author and he responded. How often does that happen in today’s schools?

Elie Wiesel responded to one of my specific questions [in his classroom response letter, decades ago]. Very powerful moment (hopefully not staged by my great English teacher of yesteryear).

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#189

Post by IggleSniggle »

msgilligan wrote: post #126

"I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life." Regardless of one's political opinion of Ronald Reagan, his letter announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis is relevant and poignant. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/reagans/ronald-reagan/reagans-...

Careful there...

NOTICE WARNING CONCERNING THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS LETTER

The Reagan Library is authorized to make copies of this letter available only for the purpose of private study, scholarship or research. This letter may not be reproduced for publication without the expressed consent of the personal representative of Ronald Reagan. For more information contact: Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation 40 Presidential Drive Simi Valley, CA 93065 1-805-522-2977

Re: Flowers for Algernon (1965) [pdf]

#190

Post by ProllyInfamous »

mvkel wrote: post #112
eismcc wrote: post #51

After my class read this book in high school, we wrote the author and he responded. How often does that happen in today’s schools?

I wouldn't say it's unusual. Whenever I read a good book, see a great film, or appreciate an art piece, I try to track down the creator to send them a note of thanks. I'd say maybe 30% reply? That said, I can't imagine creating something that people are still directly impacted by 60 years later. Software just doesn't seem to work like that

I do this with bands I really like, particularly newer groups whose first "hit" I cannot get out of my head. Few respond, but the point is I directly give them more money than they'd get through their label's playcount.

Hint to artists: put up a bitcoin receiving address on your portfolio (it'd make it a bunch easier).

Post reply on HN