Azhir Mahmood  🚀 🤖 🧬 🧠 🪐

I think we need to disconnect ideas/discoveries from individuals. Idealising someone is a mistake. His achievements don't excuse his behaviour. We will never know the amazing things that could have been discovered had others not been discouraged and had he been accommodating.

I don't disagree, but my position is slightly more nuanced. First, the asshole part if all hearsay. Even that hearsay doesn't accuse him of anything criminal. He's dead and cannot defend himself. We don't know the final balance of the people he encouraged vs. those he discouraged

The public character has encouraged many . But the individual... Well, in 1968 and 1978 there were protests over his alleged sexism. (I mean that's pretty convincing to me.) Mary Bell, his wife, was frightened by his violent temper - divorcing due to extreme cruelty.

I'm not against discussing these allegations (as well as his hygiene habits) but I really don't know how much of this is true and I don't like smearing a person who cannot have a fair trial. Perhaps let's agree that the public image he managed to create deserves admiration.

The good that men do lives after them; The evil is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Nobel Feynman.

Agree w/ Barak. We don’t use the argument they’re dead so can’t defend themselves to Columbus. I think private interacts is more important than public persona. Dialogues is important b/c who we hold up as heroes shape our perception. Plus literally has no bearing on his career

The analogy is not precise because in Columbus's case there is no dispute about the facts, just about their interpretation. Everything that has to do with relationships, however, is highly subjective. In any case we are all entitled to our respective opinions.

My problem is only with people arguing that there is just one right way to look at this and everything else is wrong. As a survivor of a totalitarian regime I've seen first hand where that leads to.