4 ms·

Human greed lol or they're poor and nobody wants to help them because they're too busy covering their own asses. Basically there's enough resources in the world

Human greed lol or they're poor and nobody wants to help them because they're too busy covering their own asses. Basically there's enough resources in the world for nobody to live in poverty. It doesn't work because nobody's willing to make it work, which is just human nature of selfishness.

brickcitymang 8y ago
And I don't deny this nature in myself
- apatters 8y ago
  It seems like you're lamenting what is basically an immutable biological trait without proposing any solutions. I don't think this adds much to the discussion.
  - brickcitymang 8y ago
    apatters, a discussion on the internet doesn't need solutions. If we loved everyone like we love ourselves, we would not let people go hungry, or suffer. I believe few people have achieved this level of transcendence, and it starts with knowing yourself. If somehow I could write a comment over the internet that can make you do some self-reflection I would. But I don't know what that comment is.
  - 3x 8y ago
    > immutable biological trait So now your two SUVs and white McMansion with a picket fence are an "immutable biological trait"?
    - apatters 8y ago
      Please try to be charitable, not adversarial, toward the counterparties in a discussion on HN. I will try to do the same. I was characterizing what the parent appeared to be saying, so that I could discuss it (that greed is a part of human nature). I was not justifying greed. I rent an apartment and I don't own a car.
      - 3x 8y ago
        Just a joke, phrasing it referring to "you" wasn't meant to be personal.
  - toofy 8y ago
    > ... without proposing any solutions... While I don't necessarily agree with everything the poster is saying--implying that someone is only allowed to discuss topics in which they have a readily available solution would likely ruin most discussion on the internet and it would certainly put a damper on scientific work the world over.
    - apatters 8y ago
      I thought the pre-edit version of your comment was more interesting. Debate is a very different thing from scientific research. I think debates have better outcomes when you follow a few rules (civility, charity, a focus on possible solutions that benefit all parties). The rules for scientific R&D are different. But whether the "enlightenment project" benefits from simply making complaints is a valid question. I still think the answer is no, or at least that if you're going to make a complaint, your position is improved by proposing a solution for discussion. I concede that it might be possible to make an effective and evidence-based counterargument, but are there meaningful social movements which have been based solely on complaining about stuff with no action platform?

brickcitymang 8y ago

And I don't deny this nature in myself

apatters 8y ago
It seems like you're lamenting what is basically an immutable biological trait without proposing any solutions. I don't think this adds much to the discussion.
- brickcitymang 8y ago
  apatters, a discussion on the internet doesn't need solutions. If we loved everyone like we love ourselves, we would not let people go hungry, or suffer. I believe few people have achieved this level of transcendence, and it starts with knowing yourself. If somehow I could write a comment over the internet that can make you do some self-reflection I would. But I don't know what that comment is.
- 3x 8y ago
  > immutable biological trait So now your two SUVs and white McMansion with a picket fence are an "immutable biological trait"?
  - apatters 8y ago
    Please try to be charitable, not adversarial, toward the counterparties in a discussion on HN. I will try to do the same. I was characterizing what the parent appeared to be saying, so that I could discuss it (that greed is a part of human nature). I was not justifying greed. I rent an apartment and I don't own a car.
    - 3x 8y ago
      Just a joke, phrasing it referring to "you" wasn't meant to be personal.
- toofy 8y ago
  > ... without proposing any solutions... While I don't necessarily agree with everything the poster is saying--implying that someone is only allowed to discuss topics in which they have a readily available solution would likely ruin most discussion on the internet and it would certainly put a damper on scientific work the world over.
  - apatters 8y ago
    I thought the pre-edit version of your comment was more interesting. Debate is a very different thing from scientific research. I think debates have better outcomes when you follow a few rules (civility, charity, a focus on possible solutions that benefit all parties). The rules for scientific R&D are different. But whether the "enlightenment project" benefits from simply making complaints is a valid question. I still think the answer is no, or at least that if you're going to make a complaint, your position is improved by proposing a solution for discussion. I concede that it might be possible to make an effective and evidence-based counterargument, but are there meaningful social movements which have been based solely on complaining about stuff with no action platform?