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Thousands Calling For Apology To Founder Of Computer Science
Gizmodo Australia / BBC ^ | 1 Sept., 2009 | By Joanna Stern

Posted on 09/01/2009 6:56:26 AM PDT by OldSpice

 

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Alan Turing, who is said to be the father of modern computer science, was a WWII code-breaker until he was prosecuted by the British government for having homosexual relations. Thousands have now signed a petition calling for a government apology.

Turing committed suicide two years after his prosecution in 1954, but was before given experimental chemical castration as a “treatment”. He is most well known for his NAZI enigma code breaking work for the British during the second World War and his helping establish a test to measure the intelligence of a machine which is now known as a Turing Test.

So far more than 5500 signatures have been collected on the Downing Street petition started by computer scientist John Graham-Cumming. Author Ian McEwan put his John Hancock on the petition.  [BBC]


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alanturing; buttpirate; castration; enigma; enigmacode; fudgepacker; gay; homosexualagenda; hutsix; poofter; turdburglar; turing; ww2
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1 posted on 09/01/2009 6:56:26 AM PDT by OldSpice
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To: OldSpice

This is a poorly written article. What is the apology supposed to be for? The prosecution. or the castration?


2 posted on 09/01/2009 7:00:02 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

Would he share harvey milk day?


3 posted on 09/01/2009 7:00:48 AM PDT by edcoil (If I had 1 cent for every dollar the government saved, Bill Gates and I would be friends.)
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To: OldSpice

His intellect could have been put to better use than hounding him to some strange Snow White suicide. Especially in war time.


4 posted on 09/01/2009 7:00:51 AM PDT by TomOnTheRun
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To: Dr. Sivana

I’m guessing, the chemical castration. Ouch.


5 posted on 09/01/2009 7:02:08 AM PDT by OldSpice
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To: OldSpice
Aw, come on. What good is an apology to a guy who's been dead for five decades? This isn't an apology to Mr. Turing, this is a make-myself-feel-better for a mistake actioned over 50 years ago. Get over it and try to solve one of the bazillion current problems we have confronting us.
6 posted on 09/01/2009 7:02:19 AM PDT by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
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To: OldSpice

Code breaking and writing a test for machines doesn’t translate to “father of computer science”.
And buggery laws were and still are sound laws that should be prosecuted. In fact Obama will probably put them back on the books in the name of socialised health care. Self inflicted anal wounds and diseases are costly to the system.


7 posted on 09/01/2009 7:02:41 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

I do not agree with the idea of an apology. An apology indicates that the actions taken in that era were wrong for that era.

Times have changed. Britain would not do it again during this time. I think that's pretty much recognized.

8 posted on 09/01/2009 7:03:25 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: econjack

This isn’t about Turing at all.
It’s about justifying the “normalcy” of homosexual lifestyles.


9 posted on 09/01/2009 7:03:35 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: OldSpice

I see it only took seven posts for the trolling to begin....


10 posted on 09/01/2009 7:04:23 AM PDT by steve-b (Intelligent Design -- "A Wizard Did It")
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To: econjack

It wasn’t a mistake 50 years ago. It was based on sound law and sound psychiatric beliefs that existed at the time.


11 posted on 09/01/2009 7:04:51 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: steve-b

And what are you trolling for??


12 posted on 09/01/2009 7:05:49 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: OldSpice

Even in the 40’s geeks couldn’t get chicks.


13 posted on 09/01/2009 7:06:13 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: OldSpice

The Turing Test is absurd. Monkeys looking in a mirror never figure out that it is actually themselves that they’re looking at. That doesn’t make the mirror image another real monkey.


14 posted on 09/01/2009 7:06:27 AM PDT by Mojave (Don't blame me. I voted for McClintock.)
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To: Nathan Zachary
Code breaking and writing a test for machines doesn’t translate to “father of computer science”.

He presented a paper on 19 February 1946, which was the first detailed design of a stored-program computer. The first working model was built from his plans. He also developed the first organized theory of digital computing. Turing machines are - to this day - the central object of study in theory of computation. Things like those - and other contributions - are why he is the father of modern computation.
15 posted on 09/01/2009 7:06:44 AM PDT by TomOnTheRun
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To: Mojave
The Turing Test is absurd. Monkeys looking in a mirror never figure out that it is actually themselves that they’re looking at. That doesn’t make the mirror image another real monkey.

I think you've misunderstood the Turing test. Also, many primates can understand they are looking at a reflection of themselves when they look into mirrors.
16 posted on 09/01/2009 7:09:36 AM PDT by TomOnTheRun
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To: Nathan Zachary
It was based on sound law and sound psychiatric beliefs that existed at the time.

I submit that the truth never changes.

17 posted on 09/01/2009 7:11:06 AM PDT by MrB (Go Galt now, save Bowman for later)
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To: TomOnTheRun
He presented a paper on 19 February 1946, which was the first detailed design of a stored-program computer. The first working model was built from his plans. He also developed the first organized theory of digital computing. Turing machines are - to this day - the central object of study in theory of computation. Things like those - and other contributions - are why he is the father of modern computation.

Concur, the Turing Omnibus was required reading for my CompSci courses.

18 posted on 09/01/2009 7:12:21 AM PDT by rjsimmon (1-20-2013 The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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To: TomOnTheRun
OH BS.

In 1837, Charles Babbage, a British professor of mathematics described his idea for the Analytical Engine, the first stored-program mechanical computer. The Analytical Engine was designed to be powered by a steam engine and was to use Punched Cards, which was used to program mechanical looms at the time.

There's the real "father of computer science"

19 posted on 09/01/2009 7:12:58 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: TomOnTheRun
I think you've misunderstood the Turing test.

Sounds more like you don't get it.

Also, many primates can understand they are looking at a reflection of themselves when they look into mirrors.

I've heard that chimps can. But so what?

20 posted on 09/01/2009 7:14:21 AM PDT by Mojave (Don't blame me. I voted for McClintock.)
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