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Just to play devil's advocate, if Stallman is genuinely autistic, as many people seem to believe, it's possible that he didn't understand it as a 'tactic'; that

by astine 7y ago

Just to play devil's advocate, if Stallman is genuinely autistic, as many people seem to believe, it's possible that he didn't understand it as a 'tactic'; that he just expressed to this woman how he felt and didn't consider whether it would be manipulative. There's still the problem that he's asking out a woman that much younger than him, but I think genuine obliviousness is a possibility here.

microtherion 7y ago
As the father of an autistic son, and having had a very awkward dating life myself, I empathize to some extent. People on the spectrum tend not to speak emotions and empathy as a native language. But they’re often good learners if properly taught. Never setting boundaries for RMS for decades may have contributed to him never been properly housebroken and ultimately didn’t do him any favors.
- astine 7y ago
  "Never setting boundaries for RMS for decades may have contributed to him never been properly housebroken and ultimately didn’t do him any favors." I don't disagree.
qzx_pierri 7y ago
You’re thinking too much. Stop giving RMS the benefit of the doubt, and stop trying to use logic to put yourself into his shoes. You’re not allowed to empathize or play devils advocate. It’s 2019, you have to blindly agree or you’re “part of the problem”. Now assume your moral position, or prepare to be ostracized.
notus 7y ago
I don't get why people are playing devil's advocate for Stallman so much on this. If it had been anyone else, a famous actor for example, the pitchforks would be out by everyone, but because he is a figure in the computing world people want to make excuses for him. This seems more like people unwilling to accept a revered figured in their community is a bad person.
- astine 7y ago
  Honestly, I've never like Stallman. I've long argued that he was a liability. The reason I'm playing devil's advocate here (I can't speak for anyone else) is that this is at least partially in response to a viral media shit-storm which at least partially misrepresented him. I've seen a lot of these happen over the years and I never like it when they happen, whether to an actor, or to tech sector person, or to a journalist, or whomever. At the very least, someone needs to play devil's advocate if only to keep us honest in our accusations. I suspect a lot of people feel this way and you're only seeing on HN because Stallman is HN relevant and most actors aren't.

by astine 7y ago

microtherion 7y ago

As the father of an autistic son, and having had a very awkward dating life myself, I empathize to some extent. People on the spectrum tend not to speak emotions and empathy as a native language. But they’re often good learners if properly taught. Never setting boundaries for RMS for decades may have contributed to him never been properly housebroken and ultimately didn’t do him any favors.

astine 7y ago
"Never setting boundaries for RMS for decades may have contributed to him never been properly housebroken and ultimately didn’t do him any favors." I don't disagree.

qzx_pierri 7y ago

You’re thinking too much. Stop giving RMS the benefit of the doubt, and stop trying to use logic to put yourself into his shoes. You’re not allowed to empathize or play devils advocate. It’s 2019, you have to blindly agree or you’re “part of the problem”. Now assume your moral position, or prepare to be ostracized.

notus 7y ago

I don't get why people are playing devil's advocate for Stallman so much on this. If it had been anyone else, a famous actor for example, the pitchforks would be out by everyone, but because he is a figure in the computing world people want to make excuses for him. This seems more like people unwilling to accept a revered figured in their community is a bad person.

astine 7y ago
Honestly, I've never like Stallman. I've long argued that he was a liability. The reason I'm playing devil's advocate here (I can't speak for anyone else) is that this is at least partially in response to a viral media shit-storm which at least partially misrepresented him. I've seen a lot of these happen over the years and I never like it when they happen, whether to an actor, or to tech sector person, or to a journalist, or whomever. At the very least, someone needs to play devil's advocate if only to keep us honest in our accusations. I suspect a lot of people feel this way and you're only seeing on HN because Stallman is HN relevant and most actors aren't.