A Blog About Making Culture
The Man Who Saved The World
March 30, 2005
Lots of times I say it doesn't matter if you get credit if your idea succeeds, because if you believe in it, you probably care more about the idea than your own recognition.
And more specific to geeks and technology, it doesn't matter if you're first, especially if you have the common geek trait of being unwilling to promote yourself. (It's a trend that affects even the best among us.) If you don't feel that what you do matters more than you getting credit, then maybe there's a chance to try something more ambitious.
I'm reminded of all this by a story that has very little to do with technology, except in the sense that some software bugs almost killed us all. Because there's a man alive today who singlehandedly refrained from destroying the world when his orders, and the data available, suggested he should do so. And somehow he's not a household name.
But I don't think Stanislav Petrov regrets his choice just because he didn't get famous from it.
Previously: Everybody Loves Me!
Next: Inequality
lists and diagrams
The Man Who Saved The World: Just past midnight on September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov was told by the computer in front of him that a... read more »Ben jenkins' Informality
Not a salesman: Anil touches on self promotion and it struck a nerve. For the past 4 years I worked at a company where certain people received a lot of recognition. This recognition wasn't the result of any particular extraordinary competence. It was from the abili... read more »PapaScott
The Man Who Saved the World: Moscow News: The Man Who Saved the World Finally Recognized In 1983 he was supposed to push the button. But didn't. (Anil Dash)... read more »Whats On My Head?
Man who saved the world: Blogger Anil Dash brought something up on his blog that I never knew about--the man who saved the world. Very interesting yet not well known.... read more »Soldier Ant
The Modern-Day Slacker's Guide to Passive-Aggressive Bug Reporting: A couple weeks back, I made mention of a small-but-potentially fatal usability bug in Movable Type. (Okay, it's not 'I killed John Denver' fatal, but it is "I lost every instance of the word diarrhea in my blog archives" fatal.)... read more »A Work In Progress
When Computers Were Young: Do you want to play a game? read more »Word Up
The Man Who Saved The World: I had never heard of this story before now. Wow... Stanislav Petrov is truly a hero. I read that he is living his retirment years in poverty. That is just wrong. Mr. Petrov should have a TypePad blog, with a read more »Jeff Harrell
I dunno. While men like Petrov are certainly worth remembering, I personally prefer to remember men like Norman Borlaug. He’s credited with saving a billion lives on the Indian subcontinent alone. That’s “billion” with a “b.” Turned 91 last Friday, too.
It’s one thing to refrain from pushing a button that would kill millions. It’s another thing entirely to feed an entire generation. Seriously, it’s a modern-day loaves-and-fishes story. Just blows my mind.
Anil Dash 
I didn’t intend to start a “who’s the best” contest, there’s lots of unsung heroes. But Borlaug did win a Nobel Prize, so I think he’s been recognized for his work, even if he’s not quite a household name.
David Adams
Wise words, Mr Dash. Thanks for reminding me.
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