Some people imbue meaning and sentimental importance to certain objects

November 13, 2024 12:26 AM

He’s an optimist at heart. You’d like him. I, of course, don’t know who you are, dear reader, but I know you’d like my dad, Bob Gruber, because everyone likes Bob Gruber. He can tell a good joke and he loves to tell them. There’s a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln, that I was reminded of, just the other day, from of all things a garbage can: “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” I don’t share Lincoln’s there’s-something-to-like-about-everyone optimism about our fellow men, but my dad does. from How It Went by John Gruber [Daring Fireball]
posted by chavenet (12 comments total)

Man, it’s been a minute since I last read Gruber. This was a lovely read to rediscover the guy with. Thanks, chavenet.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:15 AM on November 13 [4 favorites]

i like him already
posted by HearHere at 2:38 AM on November 13 [2 favorites]

I can't think of a Gruber piece this long -- besides his exhaustive MacOS release reviews -- and don't recall many at all that aren't focused on technology. What lovely writing!

I will be looking out for small glimmers of good, too, Bob Gruber.
posted by wenestvedt at 4:01 AM on November 13 [1 favorite]

It would be great to read something by Gruber that isn’t his exhausting apple content. He’s got a keen mind, he’s a good observer of people, and his text output is stylistically perfect now, but he’s continually doing the kreminology of Cupertino stuff that makes him money. This piece proves that he’s got what it takes, I just wish he would do more
posted by The River Ivel at 4:32 AM on November 13 [6 favorites]

Great read - thx.
posted by whatevernot at 4:39 AM on November 13 [1 favorite]

This is a really, really good reminder of a fundamental truth:

Most bad news, especially the worst, is big. Most good news, even the best, is small.
posted by Tomorrowful at 5:25 AM on November 13 [8 favorites]

I will say, though, I was relieved that he had the story about his dad and the ring. Reading the story about his mom, I was taking it as a metaphor for the sudden death of democracy and how one should just accept it instead of fighting it.

The story of his dad adds hope that we may one day find our way back.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:41 AM on November 13 [3 favorites]

I've been reading Gruber for years because I'm also an Apple enthusiast; this was one of my favorite pieces he's ever written.

Now I want more non-Apple content like this.
posted by vitout at 5:44 AM on November 13 [2 favorites]

Yeah, this is really a best in class for Gruber. For those who do not read him, he does post mostly Apple stuff but he's also posting a bit more politics in the mix right now.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:46 AM on November 13 [2 favorites]

Before reading this I knew him only for his Markdown project that has saved me countless hours of frustration and hair pulling. And, being somewhere in his parents age range, this piece may have been a bit more impactful and on-target for me. A good read first thing in the morning...
posted by jim in austin at 7:35 AM on November 13 [2 favorites]

This was lovely. Thanks for sharing.
posted by potrzebie at 1:51 PM on November 13 [2 favorites]

This is a really, really good reminder of a fundamental truth:

Most bad news, especially the worst, is big. Most good news, even the best, is small.

That definitely sounds profound, but I'm not sure that it's true. I believe our perception of good and bad news has been skewed by the media's profit driven "if it bleeds, it leads" strategy. In my own personal experience, I find their impact much closer in congruency.
posted by fairmettle at 11:42 PM on November 13