Way to go HN. Instant downvote due to violent disagreement with an unpopular sentiment, not because the poster failed to add anything to the discussion.
I don't think it's a failure to contribute to point out that rational people( and here we would presume that brilliant programmers are generally rational )would conduct their lives and solve their problems rationally.
Physical trauma that occurred and ended 20 years ago is not the kind of thing a rational mind would choose suicide as a solution to.
I understand that the "feelings first" zeitgeist of modern America makes this kind of thinking unpopular, but for some reason I thought unpopularity alone was not considered an appropriate rubric to downvote on HN.
Or perhaps the poster is being downvoted for the cruel and sloppy generalization, just like the one you just made. Exactly what does this contribute? Brilliant programmers are "presumed" to be rational; suicide is an irrational act; therefore... what?
"Physical trauma that occurred and ended 20 years ago is not the kind of thing a rational mind would choose suicide as a solution to."
Childhood sexual abuse is not the kind of thing that lends itself to a rational emotional state. If you read Bill's note, you'll observe that he recognized this fact, sought help, and obtained little. Maybe all he needed was someone like you to tell him to "get more rational".
Yes. For instance, someone who is given an impossible choice, during war may commit suicide to show his disagreement. Rationality is sometime cultural, which is difficult to accept to rational minds, including me. For instance, in old China, if someone did something very bad against you, the "rational" way to get revenge was to commit suicide in front of the door of this someone. It would bring an awfull lot of shit on his head, more than what you could do by staying alive...
I don't think it's a failure to contribute to point out that rational people( and here we would presume that brilliant programmers are generally rational )would conduct their lives and solve their problems rationally.
Physical trauma that occurred and ended 20 years ago is not the kind of thing a rational mind would choose suicide as a solution to.
I understand that the "feelings first" zeitgeist of modern America makes this kind of thinking unpopular, but for some reason I thought unpopularity alone was not considered an appropriate rubric to downvote on HN.