It’s surprising how many people you can run into in your life. I’ve managed to have conversations with each of the following people:
Noam Chomsky
A friend of mine was a grad student in psycho-linguistics at Stanford in the 1980s. I had been discussing a thesis I have been developing for some years regarding the operation of the brain at the neural level. She was intrigued by the idea and we discussed it at much length. Noam Chomsky came to Stanford to deliver a graduate colloquium, and she invited me to attend. After it was over, she urged me to give him a copy of my notes on the subject. I am embarrassed to admit that I took her advice. I approached him, said a few words, and handed him the papers. He grunted back at me. I’m sure that he tossed my stuff in the trash at the first opportunity.
Robin Williams
I was at a computer conference showing off my game Balance of Power at a booth when Robin Williams walked up, trailing a host of admirers. “Oh, Balance of Power!” he exclaimed. “I love that game!” He then began one of his rapid-fire monologues, about how he played the game and blew up the world. His patter was so fast and so funny that I just laughed wildly. I thanked him, he thanked me, and off he went.
Michael Jackson
I was working at Atari Research one day when a large crowd of people barged into my little research area. One of the Corporate Research executives introduced me to some fellow whose name I didn’t recognize. The executive spoke effusively about how creative I was and how I was working on cutting edge game ideas. All I noticed was that this fellow was accompanied by a number of large black fellows. I dutifully shook his hand and explained what we did, but there was absolutely nothing to show; it was just a plain old office area with a dot matrix printer along the wall. The celebrity looked painfully bored and I made my presentation really short. They all shuffled away. Afterwards I asked somebody who that guy was. “You don’t know who Michael Jackson is?!?!?!” she exclaimed. “No, never heard of him. He seemed like a nice enough fellow.” When I mentioned that we shook hands my friend told me never to wash that hand again.
Henry Kissinger
I didn’t actually speak to Henry Kissinger. I was getting off an airplane and he was right behind me. My traveling companion, knowing about Balance of Power, urged me to introduce myself and tell him about Balance of Power. I had the good sense to refrain from doing so. I still remember his gravelly voice as he talked business with his companion.
Stephen Collins
At a computer convention, I was working at my game’s publisher’s booth when their PR lady introduced me to Stephen Collins. He was very nice; he had played my game and was quite complimentary about it. I was a bit lost and blurted out that, since I didn’t get out much, I did not recognize him. He explained that he played in Star Trek, the Movie in 1979. That rang a bell and I recognized him. We chatted for a little while and exchanged letters for a few months afterwards.
I’m certain that I’ve met other celebrities over the years, but I cannot recall any more names just now.
