I don't know if you guys heard, but Ian Murdock (founder of Debian on which Maemo is based) reportedly commited suicide after being beaten up by the police (isn't that suspicious by the way?)... Reddit discussion thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comme...ening_suicide/

EDIT: I first posted it in off topic, but I think it will gain more attention here... And I think it's still more 'on-topic' then e.g. Christmas tech thread.

Whatever actually happened, RIP Ian.

Thanks for all the fish


I do hope that this case will have its true form revealed

https://web.archive.org/web/20151229...r.com/imurdock

please guys don't let us make joke of someone's death... and even if it was suicide, you have to be really desperated to make a similar act.

R.I.P.
I like Debian. Some people still don't understand his way of using the 'N' word. Whats wrong with the United States police now days? Every month I do have to read at least one news article about them 'gangsta's'.

Related Debian blog post:

https://bits.debian.org/2015/12/mour...n-murdock.html

Sad news

Well, every decade or two, the US seems to go through some sort of upheaval. Currently, the hot issues seem to be growing gap between rich and poor, the left/right radicalization of the government, and perhaps issues about religion... But what it always comes down to is people without power agitating against people with power. And, of course, the police always end up in the middle, and therefore bear the brunt of discontent.

I don't know anything about Ian Murdock's circumstances, but right now the US is a land awash with angry people carrying personal firearms. Which means it's a dangerous time to be a policeman. I can understand why they may be overreacting to some situations...

After reading his social media statements leading up.
He was definitely in distress.
Unfortunately when in distress dealing with police it can snowball into a very bad situation.
It compounds exponentially.
I've helped friends who were falling apart...
invariably when crisis services and or hospital and or police service intervene it can make situations spiral into the abyss very very easily.
I'm guessing the whole mess would have calmed down had he just been put in a room to chill out.
As a civilization we still haven't figured out yet how to respond and calm down those in emotional distress before it escalates.
It takes alot of patience and understanding from those around the individual... at the time ...in the moment...
One day maybe.
All around I feel for those who were close to Ian.
After this unfolding nightmare..
It will be hardest on them.

Are the police in the US not trained to deal with crisis situations? They are in the UK...

Oh God, no. Never call the police in the US for a person contemplating suicide. If the police department in your area that responds happens to be trained in these matters, it's merely luck.