6 ms·

I wonder if there is something the programming community could do to help him. I'm not sure what this could entail, but I'd hope there are people who would be w

by yzzxy 12y ago

I wonder if there is something the programming community could do to help him. I'm not sure what this could entail, but I'd hope there are people who would be willing to talk with him about his interests or attempt to set up some kind of assisted employment situation - he is by all accounts a very talented engineer.

GuiA 12y ago
Why are you under the impression that he is in need of help? It seems to me that he has no problem finding outlets to talk about his interests, and that he doesn't seem to desire assisted employment.
- yzzxy 12y ago
  I don't think there's sure evidence either way, but I did read this line: > Unable to work, he collects Social Security disability and spends most of his time coding, web surfing, or using the output... I have no idea if Terry would like to work or not, but I don't see harm in someone making it possible for him by extending an offer. In addition, I think it's hard to see the huge number of TempleOS posts and comments throughout the web as anything other than an attempt to talk about his interests with people.
  - mietek 12y ago
    Not everybody needs a job in order to live a fulfilling life. LoseThos is working—he is doing God's work, as he would gladly tell you.
    - yzzxy 12y ago
      It's as if you didn't read the comment above where I said that "I have no idea if Terry would like to work or not."
vinceguidry 12y ago
One of the wonderful things about Western society is that it's got enough social welfare structures to allow someone like Terry to exist, is wealthy enough to allow them to thrive, should they want to, and enough individualism to where he's not constantly being beaten over the head with other people's demands for him to change to fit their idea of what a person should be. As someone who has at times relied on this social largesse, I can say that attempts to do more wouldn't really have the desired effect. His is a wholly self-directed life, attempts to 'help' would take the self-directed quality out of his life that is being selected for. If you're worried for his well-being, I can say from experience that a person's subconscious mind is a lot more capable than we give it credit for. If Terry wants to work, he will find work. His subconscious mind will proclaim through God that he is to glorify Him through this new avenue, which just so happens to be in a company in return for a salary. If he wants to do something else, he will do that something else. He doesn't need us, and that's the real beauty of it.
- yzzxy 12y ago
  I don't know if this is true. I find it extremely unlikely that the average employer would even consider employing someone with apparent mental health issues, so it's possible many people in similar situations just give up. I don't think he should be forced to work, or even pushed to do so. But I really don't see the harm in making an offer of employment or something similar - It's not "condescending" as some other commenters have contended and implies nothing beyond what it is. If he wants to live on the social welfare that he almost surely deserves and spend his life coding or doing whatever he chooses, that's fine. I'm just suggesting that other doors could be opened.
  - vinceguidry 12y ago
    I wouldn't say you're so much condescending to him as rather underestimating him.
    - yzzxy 12y ago
      How would I be underestimating him? If anything, I'm underestimating his potential employers. There's a digital fossil record of what he's said online at this point, and the average hiring manager will probably just throw him out as a candidate as soon as they any of his posts, unless they take the time to understand the larger situation at play.
anigbrowl 12y ago
You could help him implement his demands for VMware compatibility: http://www.templeos.org/Wb/Doc/Demands.html#l1 http://www.templeos.org/Wb/Doc/Demands.html#l1

by yzzxy 12y ago

GuiA 12y ago

Why are you under the impression that he is in need of help? It seems to me that he has no problem finding outlets to talk about his interests, and that he doesn't seem to desire assisted employment.

yzzxy 12y ago
I don't think there's sure evidence either way, but I did read this line: > Unable to work, he collects Social Security disability and spends most of his time coding, web surfing, or using the output... I have no idea if Terry would like to work or not, but I don't see harm in someone making it possible for him by extending an offer. In addition, I think it's hard to see the huge number of TempleOS posts and comments throughout the web as anything other than an attempt to talk about his interests with people.
- mietek 12y ago
  Not everybody needs a job in order to live a fulfilling life. LoseThos is working—he is doing God's work, as he would gladly tell you.
  - yzzxy 12y ago
    It's as if you didn't read the comment above where I said that "I have no idea if Terry would like to work or not."

vinceguidry 12y ago

One of the wonderful things about Western society is that it's got enough social welfare structures to allow someone like Terry to exist, is wealthy enough to allow them to thrive, should they want to, and enough individualism to where he's not constantly being beaten over the head with other people's demands for him to change to fit their idea of what a person should be. As someone who has at times relied on this social largesse, I can say that attempts to do more wouldn't really have the desired effect. His is a wholly self-directed life, attempts to 'help' would take the self-directed quality out of his life that is being selected for. If you're worried for his well-being, I can say from experience that a person's subconscious mind is a lot more capable than we give it credit for. If Terry wants to work, he will find work. His subconscious mind will proclaim through God that he is to glorify Him through this new avenue, which just so happens to be in a company in return for a salary. If he wants to do something else, he will do that something else. He doesn't need us, and that's the real beauty of it.

yzzxy 12y ago
I don't know if this is true. I find it extremely unlikely that the average employer would even consider employing someone with apparent mental health issues, so it's possible many people in similar situations just give up. I don't think he should be forced to work, or even pushed to do so. But I really don't see the harm in making an offer of employment or something similar - It's not "condescending" as some other commenters have contended and implies nothing beyond what it is. If he wants to live on the social welfare that he almost surely deserves and spend his life coding or doing whatever he chooses, that's fine. I'm just suggesting that other doors could be opened.
- vinceguidry 12y ago
  I wouldn't say you're so much condescending to him as rather underestimating him.
  - yzzxy 12y ago
    How would I be underestimating him? If anything, I'm underestimating his potential employers. There's a digital fossil record of what he's said online at this point, and the average hiring manager will probably just throw him out as a candidate as soon as they any of his posts, unless they take the time to understand the larger situation at play.

anigbrowl 12y ago

You could help him implement his demands for VMware compatibility: http://www.templeos.org/Wb/Doc/Demands.html#l1 http://www.templeos.org/Wb/Doc/Demands.html#l1