On: Joe Armstrong has died

[mises]

For those of us who haven't seen it before, would you please explain what this means? I assume it is some sort of sign of mourning?

[steveklabnik → mises]

It’s done any time someone “with significance to the community” dies. I’m not sure when it started but it’s been a thing for many years.

Feels extremely appropriate to me, and honestly, it was the first thing I looked for after I saw a tweet about this. RIP, Joe :(

[_asummers → steveklabnik]

RIP Joe indeed. He will be sorely missed as a pillar of the BEAM community.

Not to diverge too far, but does anyone know who the first black bar was?

[steveklabnik → _asummers]

I tried to use the search and couldn’t find anything authoritative.

[ufo → mises]

It is exactly what you guessed.

[noir_lord → ufo]

I like the black bar, it shows both mourning and respect.

Occasionally I'll see the black bar and the notice and not even know who the person was - at which point I get to find out about someone amazing I didn't know existed and to appreciate their contribution.

Obviously I'd prefer that there not need to be a black bar though.