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>I very much doubt he's joking. It's actually subtly insulting that you think he is. I also doubt that he's joking, but it is not insulting to assume so. The s
by nandemo 16y ago
>I very much doubt he's joking. It's actually subtly insulting that you think he is.
I also doubt that he's joking, but it is not insulting to assume so. The suggestion that "the world should all switch to English as the default standard language" is rather naive and, to many people, downright offensive. Assuming that the suggestion is a joke is actually being generous.
- xanados 16y agoThere is no generosity in imputing your own beliefs onto other people's reasoned statements.
- nandemo 16y agoOh, I agree. Clearly, my point is that the aforementioned suggestion is not a well reasoned statement. Suppose I post a comment on HN like "hey, maybe we should physically segregate blacks and hispanics and whites; there will be a few problems on the way but surely the crime rate between races will go down". I'd expect that comment to be regarded either sarcastic or downright trollish. It would not be insulting to consider it as a joke. (Of course, this example is an exaggeration to make my point clear. I don't mean the original comment is trollish.)