>>> I am pretty sure that if his stuff were posted without his name the conclusion would be obvious: it's just nonsense and very offensive at that.
This is not true, at least for me. When I first read Taleb's ideas, I had no idea who he was and what is his credentials, but his ideas were interesting enough and challenging enough to look him up and find out what else he wrote. Yes, his style is abrasive and sometimes outright combative. So what. His ideas are interesting, that's what matters. I'd rather have an abrasive person who has interesting ideas than a polite one who has nothing.
And speaking of Python vs. Java things, I'm reading those kind of things literally every day, frequently including here on HN. If idiot badges were distributed for each such occasions, there would be a very sizeable majority wearing them. But I am not convinced calling each other idiots is actually adds anything to the discussion.
This is not true, at least for me. When I first read Taleb's ideas, I had no idea who he was and what is his credentials, but his ideas were interesting enough and challenging enough to look him up and find out what else he wrote. Yes, his style is abrasive and sometimes outright combative. So what. His ideas are interesting, that's what matters. I'd rather have an abrasive person who has interesting ideas than a polite one who has nothing.
And speaking of Python vs. Java things, I'm reading those kind of things literally every day, frequently including here on HN. If idiot badges were distributed for each such occasions, there would be a very sizeable majority wearing them. But I am not convinced calling each other idiots is actually adds anything to the discussion.