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Dumb HN-tier nitpick, but when people use the words "modest proposal" do they know where it comes from? The original modest proposal was satire and it's a littl
by noobermin 9y ago
Dumb HN-tier nitpick, but when people use the words "modest proposal" do they know where it comes from? The original modest proposal was satire and it's a little bit of cognitive dissonance for me to see it used seriously in a title.
Regardless, I find the amplification part of twitter to be the best part, although I don't really feel like I see more outrage than joy or just humor. I think it has a lot to do with who you choose to follow.
- eggpy 9y agoI could make the argument that the article uses it well, whether or not that was the authors intention. It is a fitting allegory if you stretch it. Swift's proposal is satire in order to capture the attention of readers and point it to abuses of power. One could make an allusion to poor children serving the public good and how that relates to morals and values with the spread of (negative) viral content and how tweet-babies could be better served better for consumption by the public. I haven't thought it through much more than that, but I could see it.
- hnal943 9y agoAgree. Before I read the article I assumed that this would be a tongue-in-cheek series of suggestions that would destroy twitter.
- dang 9y agoOf course they know. But to punish them for annoying you we have deprived them of their modesty above.