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Comment by xbryanx | Hacker News Reader

Hrm...some of his "eccentric" views should be viewed for what they are, xenophobia and sexism of the most boring sort.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1550903/Patrick-Moore... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Moore#Activism_and_poli...

He might have been a fantastic astronomer, but let's not use his death to laud this claptrap as cute eccentricity.

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It would be nice if this kind of lofty smear on a man who has just died, could be avoided on HN. You imply that we know, understand and agree that Moore was indeed xenophobic and sexist - as if a) this is inarguable presumably from the links you offer b) we all agree on what these terms actually mean in relation to Moore's views.

What you are really doing is giving us your opinion. Why should we care about that unless you're going to make a specific arguable point and HN is hardly (my impression anyway) the venue for that. He was English so try a comment in the Daily Mail.

What are HN comment threads if not a place to express opinions?

I don't see it as a smear in the slightest. I see it as remembering him for what he stood by and for. My reading of his interviews suggests that he wouldn't have disagreed with my comments, he just would have thought there wasn't anything wrong with his position. I find that somewhat even more despicable, but yes, it's just my personal opinion, but I aim to be persuasive. Hence the confidence in my opinion.

As to my disrespectful timing, pish posh. I hope that my detractors and friends remember me for what I stood for after my death. I despise the rosy shade of forgetfulness that is afforded close friends and public figures after their death. Sure, I don't think I'm going to mail this comment as a postcard to his family members, but I think a website where immigration reform and gender issues come up regularly is a pretty good place to voice this point of view.

edit: spelling fix (am > aim)

Nothing wrong with facts. I'd rather get a balanced view of someone than the spin.

Look at what they did to Steve jobs! The guy was an asshole. I dont celebrate the life of assholes.

He was a member of UKIP, a party that wants to remove Britain from the EU. Hardly the same as xenophobia.

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