Live data from Hacker News

Dan

blog.dislocatedday.com

31–35 of 35 posts

Re: Dan

#31
post #18
post #3

In November, recovery was a mere hope; now, it is a growing reality. I'm glad to hear it. Welcome back.

Thanks, bud; I'm thrilled to be back!

Over the past few months there have been a couple of times I wanted to post something in remembrance but I never really knew quite what to say or how to say it. I never knew Dan. In fact, when he died in September and the HN colors changed for a weekend, I still didn't know who he was. At the time, though, I was knee-deep in learning Django and I had actually come across his blog a number of times - always helpful! In reading through the threads at the time, I felt like I sort of got to know him.

I think sometimes that the internet is always moving forward and despite the huge outpouring of support from this community, it can feel like you're the only one who remembers after a couple of weeks.

My point is this: despite never knowing Dan, I can tell from what you've written, what this community had to say about him, and from his writing, that he was a great founder, a great friend, and a great guy. And I want you to know that you are not the only one poorer for the loss, that even a random guy on the internet that you don't even know remembers and appreciates him.

Re: Dan

#32
My good friend Vijay just committed suicide in late December. It's still so fresh. He was a student here, one of the smartest at our ACM student chapter at UIUC.

It seems impossible to do anything sufficient to honor or remember him. I feel for you.

Re: Dan

#33
This seems like an appropriate place to post this: Another YCombinator founder, Florian Hufsky (Claimspotting, S'08, never launched), committed suicide in December.

Re: Dan

#34
post #12
post #6

Take care of your friends and loved ones, everyone. Mental illness takes on all forms, and plagues so many people without ever showing to the outside world.

It's also worth remembering that people sometimes commit suicide without suffering from any mental illness at all. These people need help too.

Mental illness isn't always something that is persistent and never goes away. Its my understanding that most people experience some form of mental illness at some period in their lives. It is also my understanding that if your mind is in a state to contemplate or commit suicide, you are then currently experiencing mental illness.

Re: Dan

#35
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wouldn't you have to conclude that one who makes such a choice is in some way mentally ill? Excepting terminal illness, I can't see how it makes sense otherwise. Please don't take this the wrong way, I'm legitimately curious. I have friends who struggle with depression, some of whom clearly have contemplated this terrible 'solution'.

Why the scare quotes? It's a bona fide solution. When you kill yourself, the problem goes away. Also, why terrible? It may be terrible for the friends and family, but the person committing suicide certainly has nothing to lose by it. A loss is only a loss if you perceive it as such. You won't perceive anything after you die. Theory: we'd all be better off if suicide were socially acceptable. The people who commit sui…

we'd all be better off if suicide were socially acceptable

millions of years of evolution can't be wrong about how to fool otherwise intelligent creatures into sticking around.

Post reply on HN