wonder what esr is up to

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > YOSPOS > wonder what esr is up to

Cold on a Cob: Feb 6, 2006; i've seen so much, i'm going blind
and i'm brain dead virtually; College Slice

esr posted:

I expect most other hackers confronted with sudden wealth will make similar choices. Reporters often ask me these days if I think the open-source community will be corrupted by the influx of big money. I tell them what I believe, which is this: commercial demand for programmers has been so intense for so long that anyone who can be seriously distracted by money is already gone. Our community has been self-selected for caring about other things -- accomplishment, pride, artistic passion, and each other.

OK, so maybe I'll break down and finally get a cell phone. And cable broadband so I can surf at smokin' speed. And a new flute. And maybe a nice hotrodded match-grade .45 semi for tactical shooting. But really, I don't want or need a lot of stuff. I'm kind of Buddhist that way; I like to minimize my material attachments. (My family gripes that this makes me hell to buy Christmas presents for.)

I'm not going to minimize my attachments by giving it all away, though, so you evangelists for a zillion worthy causes can just calm down out there and forget about hitting me up for megabucks. I am *not* going to be a soft touch, and will rudely refuse all importunities.

I'm not copping this harsh attitude to protect my money, but rather to protect the far more precious asset of my time. Because I don't want to have to become a full-time specialist in deciding whose urgent pitch to buy, I'm going to turn everybody down flat in advance. Anyone who bugs me for a handout, no matter how noble the cause and how much I agree with it, will go on my permanent poo poo list. If I want to give or lend or invest money, *I'll* call *you*. (Sigh...)

And yes, there are causes I'll give money to. Worthy hacker projects. Free-speech activism. Firearms-rights campaigns. Tibet, maybe. I might buy a hunk of rainforest for conservation somewhere. Megabucks are power, and with power comes an obligation to use it wisely. I'll give carefully, and in my own time, and only after doing my homework -- too much charity often kills what it means to nurture. And enough about that.

# ¿ Feb 11, 2017 15:46

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# ¿ May 3, 2024 22:35

Cold on a Cob: Feb 6, 2006; i've seen so much, i'm going blind
and i'm brain dead virtually; College Slice

graph posted:

esr_hotel_party.jpg

no don't

# ¿ Feb 20, 2017 18:13

Cold on a Cob: Feb 6, 2006; i've seen so much, i'm going blind
and i'm brain dead virtually; College Slice

hi has anyone posted that 'eric s raymond' is an anagram for 'racism yonder'?

# ¿ Feb 21, 2017 15:57

Cold on a Cob: Feb 6, 2006; i've seen so much, i'm going blind
and i'm brain dead virtually; College Slice

also 'my rancid sore'

also 'yo nerd racism'

# ¿ Feb 21, 2017 16:03

Cold on a Cob: Feb 6, 2006; i've seen so much, i'm going blind
and i'm brain dead virtually; College Slice

smbc quality can be hit or miss but it's not consistently bad imo

not all comics can be toothpaste for dinner and whomp

# ¿ Mar 8, 2017 14:21

Cold on a Cob: Feb 6, 2006; i've seen so much, i'm going blind
and i'm brain dead virtually; College Slice

Tatsujin posted:

i mean yeah probably because its a daily version of xkcd, daily comics are p guaranteed to be hit or miss

"still less weird than scott adams blog!"

daily comics are probably a grind to write and draw but toothpaste for dinner somehow manages to be at least a sensible chuckle every update

# ¿ Mar 8, 2017 15:38

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# ¿ May 3, 2024 22:35

Cold on a Cob: Feb 6, 2006; i've seen so much, i'm going blind
and i'm brain dead virtually; College Slice

goatkcd is always better than xkcd

# ¿ Mar 8, 2017 20:41

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > YOSPOS > wonder what esr is up to