Nate Silver, Election Predictor at FiveThirtyEight, Comes Out As Gay

[Botany]

http://www.latinospost.com/articles/7078/20121119/nate-silver-election-predictor-fivethirtyeight-comes-out.htm


Election prediction guru Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight credits his interest in math and numbers with being an outsider when he was young-nerdy, agnostic and gay.

Silver is obviously an intelligent number-cruncher with a head for stats, poker and baseball, but he's also been "out" for years.

But this is the first time he's explicitly acknowledged his sexual orientation. He did so in an interview with The Guardian, saying, "I've always felt like something of an outsider. I've always had friends, but I've always come from an outside point of view. I think that's important. If you grow up gay, or in a household that's agnostic, when most people are religious, then from the get-go, you are saying that there are things that the majority of society believes that I don't believe."

snip

(and rich too)

For now, he can bask in the warmth of his $700,000 book deal and the knowledge that he was very, very right.

[xchrom]

1. du rec. nt

[ann---]

2. As if

anyone didn't know?

[Botany]

4. I didn't

Botany =

BTW As a straight man i reallyt don't care except for thew idea that Freeper heads
are now S'ploding.

[x2 vancouverite]

55. That's the important thing

I don't care if Silver has sex with thermometers: He destroyed the wingnuts with math, which is, after all, the only honest science!

[BainsBane]

15. I didn't

and I still have a bit of a crush on him.

[6000eliot]

3. Well, people on the right certainly made enough snide innuendos before the election.

[Liberal Gramma]

5. This has absolutely no bearing on the validity of his work

Why would his orientation matter? Unless he might be a role model for young gays reluctant to come out of the closet.

[Richard D]

6. Forgive me, but this is important or has any relevence at all because . . . ?

[gcomeau]

8. ...

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/3-it-doesnt-matter-nate-silver-is-gay-it-matters-america-knows-he-is/politics/2012/11/18/54038

[WinkyDink]

10. Math is gay!

[Major Nikon]

29. It isn't and shouldn't

But it is for many, if not most. That's just the reality in which we live. If I were god people wouldn't feel obligated to declare or not declare their sexual orientation to the world.

[Marrah_G]

32. Every public figure that comes out has an effect on the general public and it's views

Also every GBLT person who has been highly successful in whatever field they are in stands as a monument to the younger generations still struggling.

[roguevalley]

40. because its another reason to love him

Hes fearless

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. $700,000?

That's a good book deal for a statistician! Way to go, Nate!

[WeekendWarrior]

9. Actually that's not that great of a book deal

Considering what he did this year, the advance should have STARTED at a million.

[Cracklin Charlie]

18. I'll agree with you about that.

But how many statisticians command a $700,000 advance for a book about statistics? I would guess not too many.

I think Nate is grate!

[InsultComicDog]

11. he's been out for years

[trailmonkee]

12. According to my own internal polling.... I had it at 85.1%

[Capt. Obvious]

13. I'm reading his book now

He's a great writer - brings the wonk and math to the laymen.

[Scuba]

14. Who cares? It's his business, not mine.

[MineralMan]

22. You clicked on the thread.

Why?

[Scuba]

23. To post my "who cares" reply, of course. Making a point that it's not an issue.

[MineralMan]

24. Amusing.

[Scuba]

25. Occasionally, but often I'm just tedious.

[yellowcanine]

16. He probably had to do that to fend off geek loving women....

The geek factor can be a real chick magnet.

[BainsBane]

20. Silver gay and Chris Hayes married

<sigh> What is a geek loving woman to do?

[Jennicut]

26. LOL!

Ezra Klein is married too.

Darn.

[yellowcanine]

27. I have been called a geek sometimes and I am not gay.

[BainsBane]

45. Do you wear glasses?

[yellowcanine]

57. Since third grade.

[former9thward]

17. Math and numbers are gay now?

Get over yourself Silver. No one cares.

[BainsBane]

19. Why so nasty?

Last edited Wed Nov 21, 2012, 08:59 PM - Edit history (1)

He didn't say math and numbers are gay. I don't see what your problem is with people coming out, and some of us are interested in knowing more about him.

[former9thward]

30. If you read the article is was not "coming out".

He has been out for years. I do have a problem with people who think others care abut their sexual identity. Other than some friends and family no one does. Yes there are the exception for 'celebrities' but Silver is not a celebrity in any sense. He did say that he was good at math and numbers because he was gay. Reread it.

BTW I posting defenses of Silver when some DUers were calling him a "corporate whore" and "just another liar" when his numbers were not what they wanted to hear.

[BainsBane]

44. So you have a problem with his mentioning it

In the context of a question asked. Do you become similarly angry when men mention their wives?

[former9thward]

46. If they credit sucess to being hetrosexual I think that is pretty silly.

Don't you?

[BainsBane]

47. You need to reread the article

Because he didn't.

[dsc]

53. that isn't what he said

what he said is that being gay and being good at math combined to make him understand an outsider's prespective.

[MineralMan]

21. Hmm...why the rancor, there?

Why should he not tell people he's gay? Why would anyone feel any differently about him either way?

I'm truly puzzled by your statement.

[former9thward]

28. He can run a full page ad in the NYT saying he is gay.

Who cares? Do you and if so why? He attributes his being good at math to being gay. What nonsense. Do you think math is some exclusive territory for people who are gay?

[Indykatie]

31. He Does NOT Attribute His Being Good at Math to Being Gay - What A Stretch You Made on

getting that from his comment.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

36. He didn't say that,

you imbecile.

[former9thward]

37. Another great post by you.

Keep it up!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

39. Awesome! Which other ones are your favorites?

[former9thward]

41. The ones where your word count matches your IQ.

They make a very quick read!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

50. Judging by that

dumb shit you wrote. I wouldn't be bragging about IQs if I were you. Only a total moron or a troll could've interpreted the OP article that way. Seems like you wasted a lot of words to write something a freeper would be proud of. But hey if in your world that's some kind of sign of intelligence. More power to you. See? I'm capable of writing more words and guess what. You're still a douchebag.

[Botany]

35. sometimes it is just not worth the effort

[former9thward]

38. And sometimes you just don't have it.

[MineralMan]

49. Same to you! Hug the people you love tomorrow!

You're right.

[Botany]

34. whatever

[chillfactor]

56. what a disgusting post.....

get over yourself idjiot....

[Indykatie]

33. That Book Deal No Doubt Would Have Brought Bigger $$$ Had He Signed for It This Year

[Rowdyboy]

42. Speaking only for myself, I'm delighted to hear it.

He's smart, professional and an excellent role-model. More power to him.

[upi402]

43. ^ agree 100% n/t

[vaberella]

48. I'm trying to understand the relevance of this.

If he's been out for years---then what's the big deal. And even if he came out yesterday---what is the big deal? Is it his feeling of being out of the norm as the ultimate theme to take away? But the title of the post---suggests the important aspect is his homosexuality which seems irrelevant to me.

[MineralMan]

51. The thing is that he has established himself as an accurate pollster

and is in the news. Even though he's already out, announcing that now is a very good thing. It helps people see.

[vaberella]

52. It helps people see what?

I'm just a bit confused. Many homosexuals are extremely well educated, knowledgeable, and successful in our world. Anderson Cooper comes to mind. I don't understand his homosexuality defines per say. I'm confused. Further more, I don't know what sexuality has to do with pollster accuracy.

[budkin]

54. Totally obvious but good for him!

[ldf]

58. the reason we have progressed as far as we have, and as quickly as we have

is because gay people have, in many instances, put everything on the line and come out to their family, friends, co-workers.

when people realize that they now know and respect people who happen to be gay, it becomes personal for THEM. that means it, tangentially, affects THEIR lives.

when it affects their lives, the have to rethink their whole stance.

that is how we win.

come out! come out! wherever you are! you will be so relieved, and you will not believe the support you will get.

nate's deciding to be more vocal about being gay helps us all.

[Kennah]

59. Chance of Glenn Beck's book outselling Nate's book: 0.0000000023%

[nolabear]

60. Okay, cool. Rock on, Little Brother.

Now get back to keeping mankind safe from the forces of evil speculation.