[sten]

Don't leave out the rest of the quote.

>"Yes, it really annoys me," she said. "On the other hand, he is the only one who ever explained quantum mechanics to me as if I could understand it." That was the essence of Richard's charm.

[yesenadam]

I "left that out" because it reminded me of how people say "Yes, my husband was a violent psychopath, but underneath he was a gentle, sensitive man." or something. Being 'charming' is how sociopaths get away with it, not a balancing, redeeming feature. So don't tell me I have to mention the "redeeming feature", thanks.

(Besides, I thought it was strange she said "as if I could understand it", not "in a way I could understand"...it sounded to me like she didn't understand.)

[sten]

Whoever this woman was, she was an engineer working at a cutting edge computer company in the 1970s. She likely suffered ridiculous prejudices to get to the point where she was. I'm inclined to believe that she did know (at least some) quantum mechanics and had to put up with people treating her as if she didn't know.

I can see how you've read the context and I think I've taken the opposite understanding. Either way, now people who didn't read the article can see both and decide for themselves!

[yesenadam]

I'm sorry I wrote the bit in parentheses as it meant you didn't respond to the important point, the part not in parentheses. The bit about his charmingness seemed like those justifications people give to arsehole behaviour - sociopaths are usually charming - not an effectively "balancing", redeeming one. Maybe you thought otherwise. And please allow me to make a point without being told to quote some part other than what I choose to. Thanks.