Interview with Bram Cohen... bit offensive?

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BitTorrent creator Bram Cohen on piracy and autism

i found it a bit offensive as the interviewer didn't seem to acknowledge the difficulties stemming from Asperger's Syndrome and instead seemed to credit Bram's accomplishment on Asperger's instead of his own hard work.

i've always been a bit offended when people suggested i have Asperger's as they always seemed to be doing it in away that dismissed my effort and struggles. instead of "wow it's impressive how well you've gotten along despite having Asperger's" it comes off more like "oh well sure I could have accomplished that too if I had Asperger's"

anyone else feel this way?

I wasn't offended by the interview. I thought it was presented in a non-judgmental light. Bram Cohen didn't appear uneasy in the interview and the interviewer was matter-of-fact with his questioning.

I know what you're saying, though. However, I don't think this was the appropriate forum to talk about the vicissitudes of being on the spectrum.

I think success is predicated on both innate gifts AND hard work. For example, if we assume we're all equally gifted, then it is the case that anybody who doesn't have the intellectual accomplishments of an Einstein is lazy. The fact is Einstein almost certainly worked hard, but he was only able to accomplish what he did because of the singularity of his innate gifts.

I have some innate gifts myself that relatively few possess. I do believe they are a direct result of my AS. One of my favorite Nietzsche quotes: Be careful lest in casting out demons that we don't cast out the best thing that's in us. Discrete analysis is all fine and good. But in the end, we need to see ourselves as a whole.

I thought it was irritating that both the interview and the write up on the web page described torrents as primarily for piracy.

It's like saying guns are "primarily for criminals" but "also used by police and military." Stupidity and ignorance from the BBC.