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Comment by mattmaroon | Hacker News Reader

I'm not implying it, I'm stating it. If you would like to endure what he did just to get your name in the history books, you should reconsider your priorities.

And if you wish to emulate Ghandi so much, what are you doing about it? I see from your profile you're a freelance web developer and currency trader. Is that the best route to helping the downtrodden?

I'd be willing to be you've chosen a lifestyle for yourself that's a lot more like mine than Ghandi's, and both are available.

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The accomplishments of Ghandi far outweigh both his reasons for achieving them and the methods he used. Passing judgment on his lifestyle in spite of his feats would be like saying we should disregard the works of Darwin because they offend people. Ghandi didn't get his name in the history books because he lived like a pauper.

I have no desire to emulate Ghandi and I never stated that I did. I recognize when to respect the accomplishments of others.

I didn't say I don't respect him or that he wasn't important, and I didn't pass any sort of judgment. I simply said I wouldn't want to be him. There's a pretty large difference.

OP was asking about how to prioritize things in his life, and it's clear that Ghandi is probably not a good model for him.

Your initial reply to me can be rephrased as "I wouldn't want to accomplish all the amazing things that Ghandi did because I wouldn't want to live in poverty my whole life." I hope you understand that his accomplishments outweigh his lifestyle and that if everyone were able to accomplish what he had in his lifetime the world would be a much better place.

I think what you are trying to say is "You don't need to live in poverty in order to accomplish great things." In which case, I agree with you, but I believe you should pick your words more carefully.

This will be my last reply; I don't want this thread to become a pissing contest.

And I think a more accurate rephrasing would be "I wouldn't want to accomplish what Ghandi accomplished because I don't want to suffer that much."

He's not objecting to the low social status Ghandi had, but the hardships that were necessary for him to endure to obtain what he wanted.

Exactly.

I didn't pass any sort of judgment. I simply said I wouldn't want to be him.

And then you mentioned all he got is his name being written in the history books. And then did an ad hominem attack on oakmac.

Yeah, but Matt always tries to provoke argument. It's what's put him at the center of so many interesting debates.

I didn't attack him at all. He mentioned that my priorities were wrong because I'd rather not trade places with Ghandi. I pointed out this his must be wrong too, because rather than helping the destitute in Calcutta, or any of the other third world areas, he's making websites and trading currency. When it comes down to it, I doubt he'd trade places with Ghandi either. (And in reality, I think both of our priorites would be wrong if we would make that trade.)

I didn't start any ad hominems, I was simply pointing out that the original idea (that you shouldn't worry about money because Ghandi didn't) was ludicrous.

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