3 ms·

As the author notes (and as people note on the other front-page Feynman thread today), some of the negative aspects are found in Feynman’s very own autobiograph

As the author notes (and as people note on the other front-page Feynman thread today), some of the negative aspects are found in Feynman’s very own autobiographical writings. It is therefore hard to claim that they are overlooked.

enriquto 5y ago
I would say that they are "negative", with scare quotes... There's really nothing negative in that book. I don't know about other sources about Feynman's life, but his own autobiography does not really speak ill of him, at least if that information is taken at face value. The quotes that appear in TFA with much fanfare are only descriptions of thought processes, not of actions. So, young Feynman was not particularly good at flirting, and then he received advice from other people which he thereby tried to apply. This process and its mixed results are therefore described with comic detail. Then he also drew some naked women with a pencil. If that is the best case against Feynman, he's still safe. Really, the only legitimate negative thing that you can extract from that book is that he was a bit obsessed with positive attention when young, which may have made him be a bit insufferable. But who isn't at 20. And that's it.
- Mediterraneo10 5y ago
  I'm not sure Feynman is still safe. For example, there is the matter of his visiting topless bars. A common position today is that women who choose sex work should not be shamed (because that denies their own agency, and in the case of prostitution keeping things underground only helps trafficking), but at the same time the men who visit sex workers should be shamed for objectifying the female body.
  - enriquto 5y ago
    Maybe I am too out of the loop, but what you are saying makes no sense to me.
  - qubex 5y ago
    What is said of women who frequent topless bars? Does it matter whether they are straight, bi-, or lesbians? This is getting quite ridiculous.
  - Brian_K_White 5y ago
    This double standard is true, but it's only fair considering the opposite double standard that stood forever and still stands, about women who get around vs men. But there are are all kinds of double standards in both directions so this one is true but not especially remarkable, and if one would complain about it's unfairness, one better be just as incensed and outraged about all the others, and on balance, I think the women get rather more shafting than men. I don't think it looks very good to cry about this unfairness.

enriquto 5y ago

I would say that they are "negative", with scare quotes... There's really nothing negative in that book. I don't know about other sources about Feynman's life, but his own autobiography does not really speak ill of him, at least if that information is taken at face value. The quotes that appear in TFA with much fanfare are only descriptions of thought processes, not of actions. So, young Feynman was not particularly good at flirting, and then he received advice from other people which he thereby tried to apply. This process and its mixed results are therefore described with comic detail. Then he also drew some naked women with a pencil. If that is the best case against Feynman, he's still safe. Really, the only legitimate negative thing that you can extract from that book is that he was a bit obsessed with positive attention when young, which may have made him be a bit insufferable. But who isn't at 20. And that's it.

Mediterraneo10 5y ago
I'm not sure Feynman is still safe. For example, there is the matter of his visiting topless bars. A common position today is that women who choose sex work should not be shamed (because that denies their own agency, and in the case of prostitution keeping things underground only helps trafficking), but at the same time the men who visit sex workers should be shamed for objectifying the female body.
- enriquto 5y ago
  Maybe I am too out of the loop, but what you are saying makes no sense to me.
- qubex 5y ago
  What is said of women who frequent topless bars? Does it matter whether they are straight, bi-, or lesbians? This is getting quite ridiculous.
- Brian_K_White 5y ago
  This double standard is true, but it's only fair considering the opposite double standard that stood forever and still stands, about women who get around vs men. But there are are all kinds of double standards in both directions so this one is true but not especially remarkable, and if one would complain about it's unfairness, one better be just as incensed and outraged about all the others, and on balance, I think the women get rather more shafting than men. I don't think it looks very good to cry about this unfairness.