Alan Turing - an overdue apology?

[Jon MW]

...

No, he'd have been honoured as a national hero whilst he was still alive.

It's not really relevant to the debate - but no, I don't think he would have

[kinboshi]

...

No, he'd have been honoured as a national hero whilst he was still alive.

It's not really relevant to the debate - but no, I don't think he would have

Interesting, please elaborate.

You're probably one of the few who actually appreciate how brilliant and important Turing was, so want to hear your thoughts here.

[Jon MW]

...

No, he'd have been honoured as a national hero whilst he was still alive.

It's not really relevant to the debate - but no, I don't think he would have

Interesting, please elaborate.

You're probably one of the few who actually appreciate how brilliant and important Turing was, so want to hear your thoughts here.

Just because of the work - a knighthood a few decades after he retired may have been likely.

But Bletchley Park's work has never really got much 'public' attention from the government - possibly still carrying on, hence the link you provided earlier.

[AndrewT]

There is another argument here - people seem to assume Turing would have wanted a knighthood.

They aren't just dished out - you get contacted and asked if you would accept one. If you say no, then they respect that. You think Stephen Hawking and David Bowie haven't been offered one in the past?

Perhaps if Turing was still alive and offered a knighthood he'd tell them where they could stick it.

[kinboshi]

...

No, he'd have been honoured as a national hero whilst he was still alive.

It's not really relevant to the debate - but no, I don't think he would have

Interesting, please elaborate.

You're probably one of the few who actually appreciate how brilliant and important Turing was, so want to hear your thoughts here.

Just because of the work - a knighthood a few decades after he retired may have been likely.

But Bletchley Park's work has never really got much 'public' attention from the government - possibly still carrying on, hence the link you provided earlier.

Ah, OK.  So you think he'd have been worthy of it - but the recognition wouldn't have been forthcoming because of the media and where it all sits within the public conscience?

[Jon MW]

...

No, he'd have been honoured as a national hero whilst he was still alive.

It's not really relevant to the debate - but no, I don't think he would have

Interesting, please elaborate.

You're probably one of the few who actually appreciate how brilliant and important Turing was, so want to hear your thoughts here.

Just because of the work - a knighthood a few decades after he retired may have been likely.

But Bletchley Park's work has never really got much 'public' attention from the government - possibly still carrying on, hence the link you provided earlier.

Ah, OK.  So you think he'd have been worthy of it - but the recognition wouldn't have been forthcoming because of the media and where it all sits within the public conscience?

Something like that - the 80's at the earliest would be my guess.

[Jamier-Host]

They aren't just dished out - you get contacted and asked if you would accept one. If you say no, then they respect that. You think Stephen Hawking and David Bowie haven't been offered one in the past?

Hawking is just Eliza in a waxwork model anyway. 

[neeko]

I would have thought that most of the efforts ralating to Bletchley Park were still classified in the 1950's, probably until the 70's or 80's so publicly giving him a knighthood (if he had still been alive in 1960) would have meant nothing to the pubic, as they could not be told why he was getting it.

[kinboshi]

I would have thought that most of the efforts ralating to Bletchley Park were still classified in the 1950's, probably until the 70's or 80's so publicly giving him a knighthood (if he had still been alive in 1960) would have meant nothing to the pubic, as they could not be told why he was getting it.

There's no reason to think he wouldn't have been alive into the 80s, is there?

[GreekStein]

Kin, if he was straight and lived a normal life following his work would you know about him today?

If yes, would you still think he should have a Knighthood?

If yes do you think he is the most deserving person who doesn't have one? Can you name others you'd put in front?

[Jon MW]

...

If yes do you think he is the most deserving person who doesn't have one? Can you name others you'd put in front?

I don't think that proves anything - that's just to do with the selection process in general.

Kin, if he was straight and lived a normal life following his work would you know about him today?
...

The few places in print and film where his achievements are recognised rarely talk about his homosexuality - so that's a moot point on some levels.

Many people wouldn't have known about him, many people don't know about his work - doesn't mean they shouldn't though.

[tikay]

There is another argument here - people seem to assume Turing would have wanted a knighthood.

They aren't just dished out - you get contacted and asked if you would accept one. If you say no, then they respect that. You think Stephen Hawking and David Bowie haven't been offered one in the past?

Perhaps if Turing was still alive and offered a knighthood he'd tell them where they could stick it.

Factually incorrect.

The Knighthood was offered to Ziggy Stardust. "God given ass" - eat your heart out, Gallagher Sisters.

Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we were voodoo
The kids were just crass, he was the nazz
With god given ass
He took it all too far but boy could he play guitar

[AndrewT]

They aren't just dished out - you get contacted and asked if you would accept one. If you say no, then they respect that. You think Stephen Hawking and David Bowie haven't been offered one in the past?

Hawking is just Eliza in a waxwork model anyway. 

Tell me more about Eliza in a waxwork model anyway.

[AndrewT]

There is another argument here - people seem to assume Turing would have wanted a knighthood.

They aren't just dished out - you get contacted and asked if you would accept one. If you say no, then they respect that. You think Stephen Hawking and David Bowie haven't been offered one in the past?

Perhaps if Turing was still alive and offered a knighthood he'd tell them where they could stick it.

Factually incorrect.

The Knighthood was offered to Ziggy Stardust. "God given ass" - eat your heart out, Gallagher Sisters.

Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we were voodoo
The kids were just crass, he was the nazz
With god given ass
He took it all too far but boy could he play guitar

[X] Reading comprehension fail.

I hope you've not come on this thread to cause trouble, like you did on the *** st*bbings thread.

[Jamier-Host]

They aren't just dished out - you get contacted and asked if you would accept one. If you say no, then they respect that. You think Stephen Hawking and David Bowie haven't been offered one in the past?

Hawking is just Eliza in a waxwork model anyway. 

Tell me more about Eliza in a waxwork model anyway.

Touche