4 ms·

Trent Reznor: “You’re seeing the fall of America in real time”

28 points by ciconia 8y ago

soared 8y ago
I didn't know who Trent Reznor was before reading. Turns out this is just a clickbait title for an article about the band Nine Inch Nails - not worth reading.
- matt_the_bass 8y ago
  Why do you say it’s clickbait? That quote seems pretty typical TR. I’m glad it was posted. I didn’t know they were starting a new tour. FWIW, NIN really pushes the technology envelope in their live shows, sound recordings and marketing ideas. That seems pretty compatible with HN audience.
  - craftyguy 8y ago
    Not OP, but this article comes across as an advertisement for the band and their new tour. They could have left out the part about the tour if it really wasn't an advertisement, I guess.
  - soared 8y ago
    From the title alone I expected an article about the imminent decline of america and maybe even some stats. I was definitely not expecting to learn about NIN's new tour.
  - cylinder 8y ago
    It's really nothing to do with the crux of the interview. The editor used that quote as the headline because declineporn is so hot right now. That's the definition of clickbait.
badrabbit 8y ago
It's like being sick and someone comes to your sick bed and says "you're so sick,did you know that? Here's my opinion on it..." Why do people keep writing about the fall of america without addressing what can practically be done about it? Are they telling us to panick as if that'll help? This seems like a controversial thing,hope I didn't offend anyone(let me know if I did so I can refrain in the future)
- tormeh 8y ago
  America isn't falling by any absolute measure (except inequality), it's just that other countries are catching up.
  - namlem 8y ago
    Not so much catching up as long surpassed.
- rwallace 8y ago
  Sure. There are a few things that could be done, most of which have been done in some form in other countries: - Make it illegal to bribe politicians. - Make it illegal for cities to restrict construction of new housing. - Make it illegal to profit on speculation on housing. - Make it illegal for employers to discriminate against people without a college degree. - Extend Medicare to the whole population. Failing that, or as an interim, extend Medicare to under-18s, and repeal the tax distortion for employers providing health insurance. - Repeal drug prohibition.
  - firic 8y ago
    Let's go over your points one by one: - Make it illegal to bribe politicians. It already is. If you want to bring about change you should be more exact with your complaint, otherwise people won't take you seriously. - Make it illegal for cities to restrict construction of new housing. If that was the case then someone could buy a forest and cut it all down. Some people like that there is a forest nearby. I don't see anything wrong with restrictions against destroying a forest even if it is for a house. - Make it illegal to profit on speculation on housing. Let's take Flint Michigan as an example. Right now many people are trying to sell their house and move away. Some people are buying a house because they think that eventually Flint will fix everything up and become a normal city. In that case the house would be worth more money. If speculation was illegal then no one would buy the houses from the people who want to leave Flint. - Make it illegal for employers to discriminate against people without a college degree. Imagine if Google had a policy that they would interview anyone with an A in a relevant degree. If that became illegal there would be no way that they could interview everyone that was interested in working there. They would have to find another way to discriminate that may be worse. - Extend Medicare to the whole population. Failing that, or as an interim, extend Medicare to under-18s, and repeal the tax distortion for employers providing health insurance. Currently Medicare will become insolvent in 2026. How can we include more people if it cannot take care of the current about of people? - Repeal drug prohibition. Seeing as China was defeated by England due to the opioid war, I can understand way people would be against that.
nickthemagicman 8y ago
Big fan of Trent. Hes one of the few artists with actual messages to his art beyond the Taylor Swift's and Kanye's who are more worried about keeping their brand strong than making meaningful art.
- matt_the_bass 8y ago
  Though totally different styles, I often group him with the likes of Henry Rollins. Both come from anti establishment, both explore multiple mediums with music at the core, both have personal interest trying to work with and influence mainstream media. Both have become “less shocking” as they have gotten older.
ashleyn 8y ago
It bears mentioning that he's said similar things during the Bush administration.
- matt_the_bass 8y ago
  It’s no surprise. This has been a theme for him through out his career. The typical angst of the goth/industrial scene he’s been part of since the beginning of the band. I believe that during bush years he released Year Zero with its alternate reality game [0]. That albums entire message was about the fall of america and western society in general. The game was really eerie but a fantastic way to promote the upcoming album. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Zero_(game) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Zero_(game)

28 points by ciconia 8y ago

I didn't know who Trent Reznor was before reading. Turns out this is just a clickbait title for an article about the band Nine Inch Nails - not worth reading.

matt_the_bass 8y ago
Why do you say it’s clickbait? That quote seems pretty typical TR. I’m glad it was posted. I didn’t know they were starting a new tour. FWIW, NIN really pushes the technology envelope in their live shows, sound recordings and marketing ideas. That seems pretty compatible with HN audience.
- craftyguy 8y ago
  Not OP, but this article comes across as an advertisement for the band and their new tour. They could have left out the part about the tour if it really wasn't an advertisement, I guess.
- soared 8y ago
  From the title alone I expected an article about the imminent decline of america and maybe even some stats. I was definitely not expecting to learn about NIN's new tour.
- cylinder 8y ago
  It's really nothing to do with the crux of the interview. The editor used that quote as the headline because declineporn is so hot right now. That's the definition of clickbait.

badrabbit 8y ago

It's like being sick and someone comes to your sick bed and says "you're so sick,did you know that? Here's my opinion on it..." Why do people keep writing about the fall of america without addressing what can practically be done about it? Are they telling us to panick as if that'll help? This seems like a controversial thing,hope I didn't offend anyone(let me know if I did so I can refrain in the future)

tormeh 8y ago
America isn't falling by any absolute measure (except inequality), it's just that other countries are catching up.
- namlem 8y ago
  Not so much catching up as long surpassed.
rwallace 8y ago
Sure. There are a few things that could be done, most of which have been done in some form in other countries: - Make it illegal to bribe politicians. - Make it illegal for cities to restrict construction of new housing. - Make it illegal to profit on speculation on housing. - Make it illegal for employers to discriminate against people without a college degree. - Extend Medicare to the whole population. Failing that, or as an interim, extend Medicare to under-18s, and repeal the tax distortion for employers providing health insurance. - Repeal drug prohibition.
- firic 8y ago
  Let's go over your points one by one: - Make it illegal to bribe politicians. It already is. If you want to bring about change you should be more exact with your complaint, otherwise people won't take you seriously. - Make it illegal for cities to restrict construction of new housing. If that was the case then someone could buy a forest and cut it all down. Some people like that there is a forest nearby. I don't see anything wrong with restrictions against destroying a forest even if it is for a house. - Make it illegal to profit on speculation on housing. Let's take Flint Michigan as an example. Right now many people are trying to sell their house and move away. Some people are buying a house because they think that eventually Flint will fix everything up and become a normal city. In that case the house would be worth more money. If speculation was illegal then no one would buy the houses from the people who want to leave Flint. - Make it illegal for employers to discriminate against people without a college degree. Imagine if Google had a policy that they would interview anyone with an A in a relevant degree. If that became illegal there would be no way that they could interview everyone that was interested in working there. They would have to find another way to discriminate that may be worse. - Extend Medicare to the whole population. Failing that, or as an interim, extend Medicare to under-18s, and repeal the tax distortion for employers providing health insurance. Currently Medicare will become insolvent in 2026. How can we include more people if it cannot take care of the current about of people? - Repeal drug prohibition. Seeing as China was defeated by England due to the opioid war, I can understand way people would be against that.

nickthemagicman 8y ago

Big fan of Trent. Hes one of the few artists with actual messages to his art beyond the Taylor Swift's and Kanye's who are more worried about keeping their brand strong than making meaningful art.

matt_the_bass 8y ago
Though totally different styles, I often group him with the likes of Henry Rollins. Both come from anti establishment, both explore multiple mediums with music at the core, both have personal interest trying to work with and influence mainstream media. Both have become “less shocking” as they have gotten older.

ashleyn 8y ago

It bears mentioning that he's said similar things during the Bush administration.

matt_the_bass 8y ago
It’s no surprise. This has been a theme for him through out his career. The typical angst of the goth/industrial scene he’s been part of since the beginning of the band. I believe that during bush years he released Year Zero with its alternate reality game [0]. That albums entire message was about the fall of america and western society in general. The game was really eerie but a fantastic way to promote the upcoming album. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Zero_(game) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Zero_(game)