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At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

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Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#11

Post by noxToken »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #7
sosuke wrote: post #6

The negativity is disappointing. Anyone who shows interest in development, even those that don't code, should be encouraged as we wish to be encouraged. When we see products launched here on HN they are sometimes developed by other people than the heads of those companies. Do you attack them as well? A familiar one would be Digg. If someone had an idea for an autism app but not the skill and paid for its development…

> The negativity is disappointing. You do know what kind of negative things Mr. Rumsfeld is guilty of, right? I do not think one could be blamed for feeling _ashamed_ that such a horrific man has entered the field with which those of us here are all so deeply engaged.

But what do the two have to do with each other? It's one thing if the guy is brushing elbows with you in the office every day, but this is nothing like that. He took an interest in the field and tried his hand. His past actions are irrelevant in this aspect.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#12

Post by Randgalt »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #7
sosuke wrote: post #6

The negativity is disappointing. Anyone who shows interest in development, even those that don't code, should be encouraged as we wish to be encouraged. When we see products launched here on HN they are sometimes developed by other people than the heads of those companies. Do you attack them as well? A familiar one would be Digg. If someone had an idea for an autism app but not the skill and paid for its development…

> The negativity is disappointing. You do know what kind of negative things Mr. Rumsfeld is guilty of, right? I do not think one could be blamed for feeling _ashamed_ that such a horrific man has entered the field with which those of us here are all so deeply engaged.

There's nothing horrific about Donald Rumsfeld. He was Secretary of Defense. Was he more horrific than any other Secretary of Defense? War is horrific. So is Leftist bias.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#13

Post by goodJobWalrus »

sosuke wrote: post #6

The negativity is disappointing. Anyone who shows interest in development, even those that don't code, should be encouraged as we wish to be encouraged. When we see products launched here on HN they are sometimes developed by other people than the heads of those companies. Do you attack them as well? A familiar one would be Digg. If someone had an idea for an autism app but not the skill and paid for its development…

Heh, I think it was ugly because of who the man was, not because he has an interest in development. Related, most upvoted comment on Medium:

> It’s amazing what people can do when they’re not being tortured to death!

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#14

Post by sosuke »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #7
sosuke wrote: post #6

The negativity is disappointing. Anyone who shows interest in development, even those that don't code, should be encouraged as we wish to be encouraged. When we see products launched here on HN they are sometimes developed by other people than the heads of those companies. Do you attack them as well? A familiar one would be Digg. If someone had an idea for an autism app but not the skill and paid for its development…

> The negativity is disappointing. You do know what kind of negative things Mr. Rumsfeld is guilty of, right? I do not think one could be blamed for feeling _ashamed_ that such a horrific man has entered the field with which those of us here are all so deeply engaged.

I would blame no one for being ashamed of someone they don't like claiming a the same identity as themselves. I'm not immune from that feeling and I don't like to be set into a group I don't agree with based on a passion we both share. In that way I try not to group people for blame by their passion and I don't want others to do so for me.

He has developed an app and is in a position of influence. With that I hope the understanding of how our world works may permeate into areas we've been unable to reach yet. When you learn the logic processes of computing I find it quickly becomes applied to other areas of life. The more logic the world has the better I think.

I'm feeling very optimistic today I guess.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#15

Post by beeboop »

zavulon wrote: post #5
redka wrote: post #3

more like: paid someone to develop an app

While he didn't code himself, he was very involved. From the TFA: > I’ve reviewed wire frames and branding guides. I’ve spent countless hours on beta releases. I’ve signed off on something they call “UX.”

I'm not sure you can get credit for being involved if your involvement is looking at what others are doing and saying "Ok" - input that only matters because he's paying for it, not because he has any idea that it's actually good or correct. I don't mean to be negative because it's obviously good he's attempting it, and I encourage that, but let's be honest as to what's actually happening.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#16

Post by gregjwild »

Randgalt wrote: post #12
AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The negativity is disappointing. You do know what kind of negative things Mr. Rumsfeld is guilty of, right? I do not think one could be blamed for feeling _ashamed_ that such a horrific man has entered the field with which those of us here are all so deeply engaged.

There's nothing horrific about Donald Rumsfeld. He was Secretary of Defense. Was he more horrific than any other Secretary of Defense? War is horrific. So is Leftist bias.

Well, he's probably one of the worst in recent memory. It will be many, many years before the fallout from the Iraq invasion fades.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#17

Post by noxToken »

Randgalt wrote: post #12
AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The negativity is disappointing. You do know what kind of negative things Mr. Rumsfeld is guilty of, right? I do not think one could be blamed for feeling _ashamed_ that such a horrific man has entered the field with which those of us here are all so deeply engaged.

There's nothing horrific about Donald Rumsfeld. He was Secretary of Defense. Was he more horrific than any other Secretary of Defense? War is horrific. So is Leftist bias.

I guarded detainees in Afghanistan for a small stint. I can say with confidence that within the scope of war, there are actions that are more horrific than others.

Having to stare into the face of a man who killed your friend a week ago is mentally taxing. The natural urge to take the butt of my rifle to his chin was nearly over-whelming, but what separates me from horrific people is that in those trying times, I still treated him like a human being.

What does breaking his jaw achieve? My friend is dead. No amount of torture would ever bring him back. All I would get in return is a piece my humanity ripped from my soul as I watched a defenseless man writhe in pain. Congrats, self. Do you feel vindicated?

War damn sure is horrific, but it doesn't have to be barbaric.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#18

Post by zavulon »

beeboop wrote: post #15
zavulon wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While he didn't code himself, he was very involved. From the TFA: > I’ve reviewed wire frames and branding guides. I’ve spent countless hours on beta releases. I’ve signed off on something they call “UX.”

I'm not sure you can get credit for being involved if your involvement is looking at what others are doing and saying "Ok" - input that only matters because he's paying for it, not because he has any idea that it's actually good or correct. I don't mean to be negative because it's obviously good he's attempting it, and I encourage that, but let's be honest as to what's actually happening.

It sounds like he's acting like a product owner as well - being one of the only people that actually knows how the game works.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#19

Post by ThomPete »

I am if anything a critic of Rumsfeld and have called him the most overrated minister (his SID project is just one example of his unrealistic ideas) and it's easy to point fingers at the many damaging decisions he made in the Bush jr. administration. In other word I have nothing good to say about him.

But I have no idea what kind of problematic (and wrong) decisions I would have to do if I was in power and so isolated from that (which I have no problem with) this is just a fantastic and wonderful thing to read. I wish more of the older generation would enrich us with games, apps and other perspectives to counter what seems to be a very youth centric avalanche of location based dating apps and other young generation issues.

So props to Rumsfeld for never feeling too old to try new stuff.

Re: At 83, I Decided to Develop an App

#20

Post by goodJobWalrus »

backwardm wrote: post #9
GFK_of_xmaspast wrote: post #8

I wish he'd decide to develop a conscience.

The single comment on that post is great: "It’s amazing what people can do when they’re not being tortured to death!" —Evan Engel. +1 Evan.

There are other comments, such as (in order of most recommended):

> Eagerly anticipating your gamification of waterboarding.

and quoting Rumsfeld's' opening "I’ve done business, politics, and war."

> Yes, we get it. You’ve killed people.

and the rest in the same style.

Maybe Rumsfeld's PR peeps didn't think this Medium appearance through.

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