The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz (2000)

As someone who is in recovery, this story always hits close to home. The anxiety, guilt, and paranoia that comes with addiction is brutal. I was on the verge on losing everything including two young daughters. What a fucking horrible disease.

Re: The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz (2000)

#5

Post by maxander » Sun, Dec 11, 2016, 1:06 AM UTC

A tragic tale, and a reminder that intelligence and business success are no replacement for mental health.

Even in the BBC's account, the tone of the writing seems to present a lot of warning signs and developing problems as just a genius' wacky eccentricities. If you require substances in order to function, can't maintain social relationships or struggle with harmful lifestyles, these aren't mere character traits, they're symptoms of real and treatable illnesses. Presenting these things as "the dark side of being smart" is a popular story, but its harmful in the long run.

Re: The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz (2000)

#6

Post by Animats » Sun, Dec 11, 2016, 1:08 AM UTC

Short version: alcohol.

Re: The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz (2000)

#7

Post by babbage12 » Sun, Dec 11, 2016, 1:08 AM UTC

I just lost my best mate from university to alcohol. Growing up in Britain, this is not my first friend I've lost because of alcohol. I'm in tears... I've struggled with drinking too much myself, this hits very close to home.

Re: The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz (2000)

#8

Post by andrewguenther » Sun, Dec 11, 2016, 1:10 AM UTC

Animats wrote: post #6

Short version: alcohol.

I think that's a bit of an insensitive summary.

Re: The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz (2000)

#9

Post by ino » Sun, Dec 11, 2016, 1:11 AM UTC

I remember reading this a few years ago, and it touched me as it is touching me now again.

I don't remember computers without pkzip/pkunzip. They've always been around, many copies on floppies containing games and other software, maybe just in case someone ever found a computer without them.

My school computers also had them, and we quickly learned there wasn't any benifit of compressing a compressed file. We had pointless discussions about comparisons with arj and rar without even knowing how they worked.

Re: The short, tormented life of computer genius Phil Katz (2000)

#10

Post by isuckatcoding » Sun, Dec 11, 2016, 1:16 AM UTC

Wow that was difficult to read. Not that I'm an alcoholic but I can relate to some of the things he was going through.