4 ms·

Every famous/great man was/is just a person. What’s your point?

tonyedgecombe 7y ago
I remember when Jobs died every single post on the front page of HN was about him. Yet a week later when Dennis Ritchie died it was hardly mentioned. Perhaps he is over venerated.
- jackweirdy 7y ago
  Dennis Ritchies death was not “hardly mentioned” — there were sizeable obits even in the mainstream press and it goes without saying HN discussed his legacy too across multiple days and weeks: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3105526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3105526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3106222 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3106222 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3107244 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3107244 https://hn.algolia.com/?q=dennis+ritchie https://hn.algolia.com/?q=dennis+ritchie https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/oct/13/dennis-ritchie https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/oct/13/dennis-ri... https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/technology/dennis-ritchie-programming-trailblazer-dies-at-70.html https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/technology/dennis-ritchie...
  - fireattack 7y ago
    https://news.ycombinator.com/front?day=2011-10-13 https://news.ycombinator.com/front?day=2011-10-13 this link probably works better
- rimliu 7y ago
  Do you also remember something Ritchie did in 200x? Jobs was on stage introducing iPhone in 2007 and iPad 2010. If the last thing he did were the introduction of Mac in 2014 there would not be much talk anout him either.
  - finnthehuman 7y ago
    Ah, so that's what makes a man great. Not their accomplishments and failures, but how aggressively they self promote.
    - Spooky23 7y ago
      That’s the difference between news and history.
    - GarrisonPrime 7y ago
      You jest, but sadly yes. Those who are mostly promoted by others tend to be remembered for reasons they might not prefer.
    - rimliu 7y ago
      I said nothing about greatness. Just pointed out that being public makes someone more likely to be talked about after death.
- RivieraKid 7y ago
  Because Jobs was a more influential and captivating figure, in my opinion obviously.
navigatesol 7y ago
>What’s your point? That talking about how one of the most successful business men of all-time took advice from the most famous band of all-time is vapid.
fnord123 7y ago
That's not true. Some are mixed with fable to an extent such that they aren't people any more. Jesus. Guan Yu. Siddhartha Gautama. Winston Churchill. Steve Jobs.

I remember when Jobs died every single post on the front page of HN was about him. Yet a week later when Dennis Ritchie died it was hardly mentioned. Perhaps he is over venerated.

jackweirdy 7y ago
Dennis Ritchies death was not “hardly mentioned” — there were sizeable obits even in the mainstream press and it goes without saying HN discussed his legacy too across multiple days and weeks: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3105526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3105526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3106222 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3106222 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3107244 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3107244 https://hn.algolia.com/?q=dennis+ritchie https://hn.algolia.com/?q=dennis+ritchie https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/oct/13/dennis-ritchie https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/oct/13/dennis-ri... https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/technology/dennis-ritchie-programming-trailblazer-dies-at-70.html https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/technology/dennis-ritchie...
- fireattack 7y ago
  https://news.ycombinator.com/front?day=2011-10-13 https://news.ycombinator.com/front?day=2011-10-13 this link probably works better
rimliu 7y ago
Do you also remember something Ritchie did in 200x? Jobs was on stage introducing iPhone in 2007 and iPad 2010. If the last thing he did were the introduction of Mac in 2014 there would not be much talk anout him either.
- finnthehuman 7y ago
  Ah, so that's what makes a man great. Not their accomplishments and failures, but how aggressively they self promote.
  - Spooky23 7y ago
    That’s the difference between news and history.
  - GarrisonPrime 7y ago
    You jest, but sadly yes. Those who are mostly promoted by others tend to be remembered for reasons they might not prefer.
  - rimliu 7y ago
    I said nothing about greatness. Just pointed out that being public makes someone more likely to be talked about after death.
RivieraKid 7y ago
Because Jobs was a more influential and captivating figure, in my opinion obviously.

navigatesol 7y ago

>What’s your point? That talking about how one of the most successful business men of all-time took advice from the most famous band of all-time is vapid.

fnord123 7y ago

That's not true. Some are mixed with fable to an extent such that they aren't people any more. Jesus. Guan Yu. Siddhartha Gautama. Winston Churchill. Steve Jobs.