[sam_lowry_]

First off, @pg actually started Hacker News and was instrumental to its long-term success.

Second, @pg 10 years ago is not @pg today. People change, and while his latest essays many not be exceptional neither in style nor in content, texts like "What You'll Wish You'd Known" and "What You Can't Say" have been highly influential well outside SV or even US.

P.S funnily, shortly after "What You'll Wish You'd Known" I saw a viral video of Joanne Rowling saying the same thing @pg was barred from saying at a commencement address: Stay Upwind.

[jdub]

Like I said.

[kkjjkgjjgg]

What issues do people have with PG? I also enjoy his later essays.

But I guess he is too rich now, so it is mandatory to hate him?

[smolder]

I do think that when someone is very successful and has a reputation, others are more likely to try to tear them down, maybe from a sense that the success or reputation is not deserved.

With the obscene income & wealth inequality that exists, thanks to our winners-take-all kind of society, there is a lot of resentment towards such people.

If Mr. Graham's essays were written by an unknown, my guess is there would be a smaller proportion of negative reactions, but also far less interest overall.

[slothtrop]

That and his posts are popular, shared here often. That's really all there is to it. Some appear to believe that writing has to reach the pinnacle of enlightenment to justify popularity.