>>>Funny how so many thought he was so great. I thought he was a miserable person, who lived a miserable life. I guess his misery drove him to suicide. What a shame - he was apparently a very intelligent person, just without a compass. Kinda like a teenager who never grew up.
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>>I wonder what he'd have thought of you.... ;-)
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>Seems he didn't think much of anyone, himself included. Isn't that your take too?

Hi John,

Not having know him personally, I'm sure not to speculate about his motivations or offer any post-mortum tips about his world view. However, his artistic/journalistic contribution has been regarded as valuable. He deliberately wrote in 1st person and was admittedly subjective, believing that the conventional 3rd person objective conventional style didn't withstand analysis and prove credible very often. Maybe your notion that he "didn't think much of anyone" is a reaction to this? He naturally and easily challenged conforming influences believing his own authority would suffice by default. I too such suffer from this affliction. :-) But hey, if we all were the same, all but one of us would be unneccesary. Differentiation, subjectivity, communion: now there's a functional trinity!

Regardless, the decision about suicide is very complex and unfortunate. It doesn't have much to do with compasses. It's mostly about pain. Trivia: he grew up in my neighborhood.

Thanks John,
Steven-