[krapp]

You have a reductionist view of both people and society that I find uninteresting.

Your fixation on "great man" view of history, in which only those who affect society on a grand scale matter, belongs in the last century, as does your reductionist view that societies "progress" along some linear axis of "good" or "bad." Everyone affects society, everyone matters, and society moves in countless directions at once.

Nevertheless.

However unimportant you may consider Simone Biles, the fact still remains that she's accomplished far more than you likely ever have or will. So apply your own rubric and find a bit of humility. She has achieved master status in her art. She has doubtless inspired generations of gymnasts with a lifetime of practice, effort and skill, and made an indelible mark on her field. She's the best in the world at what she does. What have you done, Nikolay?

...that's a rhetorical question, I don't actually care.

[nikolay]

Well, maybe I won't be more accomplished in your eyes as obviously your value system differs from mine. But I've tried hard in many way to change things for better - not for me, but for others and for the future generations to come. And I have some successes. What is she going to accomplish? Make money and make others follow her lead? And that would be great, right? Well, not for the planet - that's for sure!

[1996]

> What is she going to accomplish? Make money and make others follow her lead? And that would be great, right?

She inspired me and other in her boldness

> Maybe she is. I see no grace in her performance though. Maybe I'm too used watching Soviet Bloc gymnastics. Isn't this artistic gymnastics? I see no artisticism in her performance, just routine - it's like a robot doing it, but failing to land properly

Your lack of interest in pushing the boundaries or rejecting pre established rules (Who said gymnastics should only be about art? Why do you think soviet block country must forever be the model?) strikes me as dull and classicist.

You would be very happy in China mainland, where you have one model to obey and follow, coming from the top down, with no room for inspiration or breaking the mold.

[nikolay]

I don't follow you as gymnastics in China is way more popular than gymnastics in the US. America has always been based on following role models and all was good until the Kardashians and gangster rap singers become those. Given she competes in the artistic gymnastics field, being artistic is a key component of the sport - it's sport, but it is an art, too. Rhythmic gymnastics is way more artistic, I agree, but it also is much more complicated than simple athletic routines and it's dominated by Eastern Europeans mostly due to the focus of beauty, grace, and clockwork coordination. Again, not sure what boundaries she's pushing in this breakneck act - there's no human, who can push the boundaries beyond those set by animals.

[1996]

> However unimportant you may consider Simone Biles, the fact still remains that she's accomplished far more than you likely ever have or will. So apply your own rubric and find a bit of humility

I love your take. It makes me happy to find the rare soul on HN who gets it.

[nikolay]

Accomplishment is more than accomplishing something. Go to PubMed and you will find a lot more role models to follow and heroes to admire than all the circus clowns cheered in the MSM. A scientist may not get all the fame and cheering a clown gets, but they do accomplish a lot more in the grand scheme of things.