Hacker News Reader

Comment by hobin | Hacker News Reader

I don't really see how this is news.

Don't get me wrong, I think Stephen Hawking is a very smart man, and he has definitely done his fair share of work to help people understand science - not to mention that his scientific accomplishments aren't bad, either. That being said, there's just nothing new in this Q&A that he hasn't already said or wasn't already widely known to anyone who bothered to do a quick search on Google (except perhaps the part about his quality of life, but let's face it, that's not important).

View on HN

I don't think the part about his quality of life is not important.

Lots of people have disabilities, only accounting for spina bifida which is physically less disabling that ALS, or muscle atrophy which leaves cognitive capacity intact, already puts them in the thousands. Someone needs to show them they can achieve many of what they dream about, because most of society only gives them pity and consent. We have Olympic Games for disabled people whose dreams are of being athletes, and we need people like Stephen Hawking to show disabled wannabe scientists and hackers (many of whom I believe read HN and ars) that they can also triumph in their geeky endeavours.

You raise a valid point. If that were the case, though, then I would argue the article should've been posted under a different title. The current title suggests that I'm going to see mr. Hawking say something profoud about time travel, M-theory and extraterrestials.

Thats just it though. There are many who WONT go back and re-read what he has said. Some people think that by virtue of him having something to say that he's presenting something new.

You have to remember that in knowing and being familiar with the content being presented that you're in the minority of people who will EVER grasp this knowledge, even on a basic level.

Its important for more people to learn about the frontier in as many ways as possible, as often as they can.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com