Should Steven Wolfram be envied? | Hacker News Reader

Should Steven Wolfram be envied?

6 pointsamichail8 comments

Sure, you may think his New Kind of Science is useless. But he is rich and can do whatever research he likes -- it doesn't matter what others think.

And it's obvious that he is having fun in the process.

Isn't that something to be envied?

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At the risk of sounding like an old prude, I'm not crazy about dragging somebody out by name and then everybody gathering around and critiquing his life. Seems a little perverse to me. Perhaps asking about his work, the general lifestyle, or his theories might be a little more fertile ground? Instead of asking opinions about the man himself. I mean really, who the heck really knows Wolfram here? He's just some guy we read about in the media.

Having said that, I'm glad to offer positive feedback about what I know about him. I can certainly admit that I envy his lifestyle of setting up a company and then pursuing science with the resources available. I'm a big fan of NKS and the computational universe. But heck if I can understand it all. I admire it the way I would a great painting -- it's obviously the work of a master, and whether it's expressionist or impressionistic I have no idea. He's a interesting and unusual person. It'd be cool to have a beer with him and discuss The Matrix.

At the risk of sounding like an old prude, I'm not crazy about dragging somebody out by name and then everybody gathering around and critiquing his life.

I don't know about that. I think it would be a neat idea for a startup.

I modded you up. There probably is a great little startup idea in taking famous people and trashing them in new and interesting ways. Not sure if it fits the board, but then again, you didn't ask about the startup potential originally. Great follow-up comment.

Well, if we can't make fun of Wolfram, let's at least make fun of NKS:

In my opinion, NKS is the kind of glittering complicated mental masturbation that dazzles the layman and angers the knowledgeable.

And praise Mathematica:

Hurray for Mathematica!

Did you mean to say should Steven Wolfram be admired? Envy is never fun.

This just depends on your personality. Some people envy while others admire.

Should X be envied? No. Envy is wasteful and counterproductive. Learn waht you can from X's life and move on.

I think Steven Wolfram is one of the greatest mathematical geniuses of our time; I admire him for that.

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