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Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

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Re: Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

#21
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kind of like not extrapolating that someone hates females if they use a gendered noun?

I’m not sure how you got from my comment to this, but in the interest of being clear: Extrapolating that somebody has a positive vibe and was an Eagle Scout, so they can’t have had past hardships is radically different from “extrapolating” that somebody who uses gendered language has gender biases. The former is a textbook logical fallacy (“affirming the consequent”). The latter is not.

Cantrill's "vibe" has been controversial in the past. I wonder, while trying to be as neutral as possible, if the original commenter was actually sensing something like overconfidence or even arrogance.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19161006

Re: Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

#22
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for pointing this out. Overcoming trauma and suffering strengthen the character of some people, probably a smaller percentage than those that they keep down. I have achieved the happiness and positivity that Bryan has by overcoming them. My sadness is about the decades it took, but even so, I am grateful that I did.

In the response to bullying, most become angry and defensive or submissive and fearful, some clever assholes, and a rare few become very nice yet assertive people and even a rarer few become the next superstars. The response to trauma is varied.

So, in most cases, bullying causes damage to the victim?

Re: Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

#23

I've always enjoyed listening to Bryan discuss his computing passions. It struck me listening to this that he seems like a man who has never suffered hardships or trauma and had supportive parents. It made me sad to think about what a difference that would have made in my life.

Don't let that hold you back, mate. Don't think about what you could have been because you'll end up thinking about it forever.

I know this advice is fairly cliché, but focus on yourself now. Keep your chin up. :)

Re: Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

#24

I've always enjoyed listening to Bryan discuss his computing passions. It struck me listening to this that he seems like a man who has never suffered hardships or trauma and had supportive parents. It made me sad to think about what a difference that would have made in my life.

Damn, just reading the podcast guest list is enough to trigger imposter syndrome. But in all seriousness excellent suggestion!

Kudos to the oxide folks for humorously spelling out their job requirements and clearly disclosing pay. You don't see that much in our industry.

Re: Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

#25

I've always enjoyed listening to Bryan discuss his computing passions. It struck me listening to this that he seems like a man who has never suffered hardships or trauma and had supportive parents. It made me sad to think about what a difference that would have made in my life.

Wow, that's pretty personal speculation. The answer for me -- as it probably is for many -- is more nuanced than it might appear: I have had great privilege, but I also suffered some pretty intense childhood trauma that has very much shaped important aspects of my character. I'm unlikely to ever talk about this publicly in detail, so I'll leave it at this: one should never assume that someone else has not suffered hardships or trauma.

All of that said, I'm sorry to hear about your own challenges, and I'll leave you with the note that my own mother wrote me at a particularly difficult moment: the strongest sailor knows the roughest seas. I'm sorry if that comes off as trite, but that sentiment (plus a child psychologist!) really helped me, and hopefully can provide some solace for you as well.

Re: Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

#26

Bryan and the Oxide folks have a podcast of their own called "On The Metal" where they interview awesome tech people, generally people who work closely with hardware. I enjoy it a lot: https://oxide.computer/podcasts

I'm really bad at keeping up with podcasts and On The Metal is the only one that managed to have me listen to all of the episodes.

Re: Bryan Cantrill Interviewed at ACM Bytecast

#27
post #21
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not sure how you got from my comment to this, but in the interest of being clear: Extrapolating that somebody has a positive vibe and was an Eagle Scout, so they can’t have had past hardships is radically different from “extrapolating” that somebody who uses gendered language has gender biases. The former is a textbook logical fallacy (“affirming the consequent”). The latter is not.

Cantrill's "vibe" has been controversial in the past. I wonder, while trying to be as neutral as possible, if the original commenter was actually sensing something like overconfidence or even arrogance. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19161006

Indeed. Everything points to someone who had never understood the damage he has done to others through his actions.
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