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At first I agreed with swombat, but on reflection (and after digging up the thread you're referring to) I think you have a point. I think you need to spell it
by ScottBurson 11y ago
At first I agreed with swombat, but on reflection (and after digging up the thread you're referring to) I think you have a point.
I think you need to spell it out in more detail, though. I would put it this way to someone like guard-of-terra: It's fine to say that you don't want to live in Russia, and it's fine to explain why. The politics, the institutions, the culture are all fair game. It's also fine to express as an opinion your opinion that a lot of Russians would rather live somewhere else. But attacks on people, even Russians in general, are not okay. So for example, "No one in their right mind would want to live there" says that anyone who likes it there is not in their right mind. That's a personal attack.
- guard-of-terra 11y agoAs I've already pointed out, there's a lot of "no one in their right mind" on HN and it is not usually considered an insult.
- ScottBurson 11y agoSo you agree that it's sometimes considered an insult? Isn't that bad enough? I like your candor, guard-of-terra, and I think you bring a valuable perspective. I don't want to see you banned. Please try to hear what I'm saying about the way you express yourself.
- dang 11y agoThat doesn't address the point at all, because the meaning is in the thought you expressed, not a fixed phrase. Consider the difference between "no one in their right mind would want a four-hour commute" vs. "no one in their right mind would marry you". The first is not a slur. The second very much is.
- guard-of-terra 11y agoNow that you used that particular example, I can finally see your point. Sorry. I'll try to find more correct wording.
- dang 11y agoThanks for expressing this better than I could.