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I would guess that most of the people who downvoted it, did so because they were opposed to the idea of a Muslim registry (as am I). If you're opposed to it, an
by mwfunk 10y ago
I would guess that most of the people who downvoted it, did so because they were opposed to the idea of a Muslim registry (as am I). If you're opposed to it, and hope that he is also opposed to it, then the last thing you want to do is to force him to go on record at this stage in his career as being opposed to it. That may do nothing, or it may hurt him, but it's not going to help him or the opposition to the registry.
On the other hand, if you're in favor of a Muslim registry and fear that he might oppose it, then it makes total sense to ask him this question at this time. In fact that's the only reason it makes sense to ask him this question at this time. Hence downvoters, assuming that the majority of HN is against a Muslim registry.
- enraged_camel 10y agoI just took the question at face value. It's pretty silly to try to read too much into it, in my opinion.
- 1888franklin 10y agoAs the asker, I will say I'm opposed to the registry, and I disagree a bit with your notion on strategy. I see what you're saying. But I think it's important to establish a norm in our communities now (perhaps like http://neveragain.tech/ http://neveragain.tech/), rather than being silent and hoping that we will have "sleepers" in the right positions that can stop it later on.
- forrestthewoods 10y agoGiven that no "Muslim Registry" has ever been proposed or supported by anyone it is not the most pressing question.
- peteretep 10y agoHere's the thing, bub. A person who has put so much effort into just hinting he'd like one[0] while making sure he can also claim not to want one is just a scumbag, not someone who has never proposed or supported one. It's like saying "I don't really think all blue people are liars" and giving a big wink to your audience at the same time, then claiming to not be a racist. Are supporters of someone like that suckers or just being dishonest about their own intentions? [0] https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/17/the-evolution-of-donald-trump-and-the-muslim-database/?client=safari https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-fix/wp/2016/...
- bdcravens 10y ago> Are supporters of someone like that suckers or just being dishonest about their own intentions? As long as we're drawing comparisons, isn't your question a bit like "Have you quit beating your wife?"
- peteretep 10y agoRather than sophistry, it might be more productive to supply a third explanation for why someone would try and claim Trump hasn't worked hard to give the impression he wants a Muslim registry? Bonus points if you can explain the massive cognitive dissonance between supporting a man who goes out of his way to muddy the waters where his plans and opinions are concerned, and the gnashing of teeth about Clinton's admittance that it can be useful to have a public and private stance.
- forrestthewoods 10y agoBub? C'mon now. No need for that.
- snowwrestler 10y agoNo, it's a reasonable question about personal intent and I hope Matt answers it.
- matt4077 10y agoSo much of tech opinion is shaped at HN, I believe it's worth it to share – and in a way collectively rehearse – personal reactions to some of these hypotheticals. I hope that if I were to be given a task so clearly violating rights, I would follow through with what my first reaction now is: sabotage it, using means usually considered illegal if necessary, up to and including property damage. edit: I'm not at USDS, nor anything similar, nor a US citizen. So the above is pretty cheap talk – nobody would ever ask /me/ for their illegal Orwellian IT project. I was just trying to express an attitude that I hope exists where it actually matters.
- pc86 10y ago> So much of tech opinion is shaped at HN You grossly overestimate the reach and importance of HN