RIP Michael S. Hart: founder of Project Gutenberg

radar.oreilly.com

104 points·armored··6 comments

What was the cause of death? It isn't mentioned in his obituary or any of the news items I've seen so far.

I must admit to being curious myself, but neither of us need to know. Now is the time to celebrate his life, not to gossip about his death.

Wait, what? Merely inquiring as to how he died is "gossip" and the implication is that I'm engaging in negativity? I think you should check the dictionary:

gossip [ˈgɒsɪp] n 1. casual and idle chat to have a gossip with a friend 2. a conversation involving malicious chatter or rumours about other people a gossip about the neighbours 3. Also called gossipmonger a person who habitually talks about others, esp maliciously 4. light easy communication to write a letter full of gossip 5. Archaic a close woman friend

If the death was something mundane for somebody born in 1947 (a heart attack for example), then you're engaging in #1 which doesn't belong on Hacker News.

If the death is something juicy like drugs or suicide, then you're engaging in #2. You don't have to be malicious to spread malicious chatter.

A heart attack at 64 is mundane to be sure, but I think it would be worth knowing. The article's anecdote about eating sugar on pizza might present an object lesson for the people left to carry on his legacy if his death related to a heart condition.

In any case, I don't think blindly ignoring his faults, whatever they may be, is the best way to celebrate his life. People are usually great in spite of and even because of their faults. Ignoring them doesn't really give a good picture of the person.

The previous discussion of Michael's death is at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2971971

Reply on news.ycombinator.com