[hipsterelitist]

_why is both an attempt at a symbol and a person. Most of the interest around the persona was generated by the eccentricity in hiding as much as (if not more than) around the other theatrics and unique works created. That's not how you create a symbol, that's how you create curiosity and interest. I know its a dirty word, but its marketing (and marketing that the ruby community needed, it certainly helped to popularize things in the early days). In going into hiding and ripping away his works, he actively destroyed the symbol and very concretely attached it to the actions and whims of one man.

Its nice to think that it could be a symbol, and maybe it is... but it would only be due to the actions and desires of the ruby community.

[steveklabnik]

I was discussing this with someone earlier on IM: I think that there's also a lot of fruit in a "_why as myth" angle. He himself said what you said, in the Poignant Guide, the part where he talks about his own suicide:

    > Blix was right. I’m in so [sic, should be 'no'] shape to write this book.
    > Goodbye until I can shake this.
    > 
    > Aw, come on!!! You're leaving us here??
    > 
    > Ha! I was right! He flipped his lid! He's all burned out
    > and he's going to shoot himself in the head!
    > 
    > But what about us? This doesn't bode well for us.
    > 
    > Oh, *we'll* be fine. We're famous. Other people _will_ sketch
    > our likeness.
    > 
    > We'll be twice as famous when he's gone. People can be
    > so idolatrous with their mourning!

http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/book/chapter-6.htm...