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I would love to be the kind of writer who could communicate something like this across a ten-year life experience gap, but I know I'm not - it's actually quite

I would love to be the kind of writer who could communicate something like this across a ten-year life experience gap, but I know I'm not - it's actually quite a bit harder than it sounds. One last try though, I guess ;) From my perspective, you're arguing "I'll be lucky", and I'm just saying "you might not be". That's it.

palish 17y ago
Then don't post the comment in the first place, if you're not going to at least try. That's my point. Posting comments just because you feel that you're right doesn't help anyone. It makes the person you're talking to feel annoyed, and doesn't change their point of view. And if your opinion happens to be the popular opinion, then that will incite a mob downvote of their (possibly insightful or interesting but unpopular) comment, and a mob upvote of your useless "I'm right because I'm right" comment. It's demoralizing to spend a lot of time crafting a comment, only to have it mass-downvoted just because it's unpopular, and to have some thoughtless reply massively upvoted just because it's popular. I mean, you see where I'm coming from, right? It's this kind of train of thought that's destroying HN. The thought that it's okay to not put in effort into commenting. The conversation on HN is where the magic is at -- if the conversation goes to hell, then HN is doomed. And thank you for trying to communicate your position, even if it was just a single sentence. As far as my response, well... I really don't see a significant chance of me getting hurt. I'm basically paranoid when I drive, and a car accident is pretty much the only thing that could seriously injure me. Health insurance is $300/mo that I just don't need to spend.
- infinite8s 17y ago
  Here is why you are wrong. If you are not insured and have an accident or suffer some terrible disease which requires huge medical bills, you will not be able to pay them. Since hospitals are required by law to provide service regardless of suitability to pay, everyone else with health care will end up paying for your treatment through increased medical costs. So in effect, your carefree "I'm young and will never get sick" attitude taxes those of us who are responsible enough to get insurance.

palish 17y ago

Then don't post the comment in the first place, if you're not going to at least try. That's my point. Posting comments just because you feel that you're right doesn't help anyone. It makes the person you're talking to feel annoyed, and doesn't change their point of view. And if your opinion happens to be the popular opinion, then that will incite a mob downvote of their (possibly insightful or interesting but unpopular) comment, and a mob upvote of your useless "I'm right because I'm right" comment. It's demoralizing to spend a lot of time crafting a comment, only to have it mass-downvoted just because it's unpopular, and to have some thoughtless reply massively upvoted just because it's popular. I mean, you see where I'm coming from, right? It's this kind of train of thought that's destroying HN. The thought that it's okay to not put in effort into commenting. The conversation on HN is where the magic is at -- if the conversation goes to hell, then HN is doomed. And thank you for trying to communicate your position, even if it was just a single sentence. As far as my response, well... I really don't see a significant chance of me getting hurt. I'm basically paranoid when I drive, and a car accident is pretty much the only thing that could seriously injure me. Health insurance is $300/mo that I just don't need to spend.

infinite8s 17y ago
Here is why you are wrong. If you are not insured and have an accident or suffer some terrible disease which requires huge medical bills, you will not be able to pay them. Since hospitals are required by law to provide service regardless of suitability to pay, everyone else with health care will end up paying for your treatment through increased medical costs. So in effect, your carefree "I'm young and will never get sick" attitude taxes those of us who are responsible enough to get insurance.