4 ms·

Lynch mobs are deplorable, and the internet hive often becomes a bullying group, however it's a weird example that you decided to set your stake into. What "cr

Lynch mobs are deplorable, and the internet hive often becomes a bullying group, however it's a weird example that you decided to set your stake into. What "critical thinking" was missing? Successful actor claims he was attacked by people wearing MAGA hats. It is unlikely (but not impossible, as shown), that someone with so much to lose would contrive such a scenario, and it's entirely likely that racists/assholes would be wearing MAGA hats (there have been many MAGA hat incidents). There is nothing that triggers any critical fault. Let's be real -- whether deserved or not, for someone to unironically wear a MAGA hat today is a pretty unique niche. The other person is being pushed to transparent for pointing out how unfortunate the term "SJW" is, especially on a reasonably enlightened forum like this. I support their statement. That's a statement that people use when speaking to partisans/the converted. It has no place in normal conversation. It is the weekend though, when the “SIJs” are out in force on HN. My error in not sticking to weekdays.

bdcravens 7y ago
A critical thinker would wait until all context was clear, rather than join the mob and rapid-fire smash the retweet link. I would expect them to be more enlightened than the mob. I assume in their job when they encounter bad code, they don’t git blame and run to that coworker’s cubicle and start hurling insults at them. They likely calmly identify the context before taking action.
- endorphone 7y ago
  What context? That he was lying about the whole thing? It is interesting how frequently the Smollett case comes up, and coincidentally Trump just tweeted about it, from Japan, yet again (claiming that it's a "hate crime" against MAGA wearers, which is uproariously stupid and offensive). All of those mass killer MAGA citers, and countless and growing numbers of hate crimes against minorities, tossed aside because look, this somehow proves all of that untrue. You see the same thing by the incel crowd when a false rape account is found, then it's heralded from the mountaintops as if it invalidates the reality of rapes.
  - bdcravens 7y ago
    You're missing my point (and maybe Smollett's a bad example as we didn't learn the truth for a few weeks; I see the same mob mentality in similar stories). I'm saying they shouldn't jump on the mob mentality without identifying the context of the situation (for example, the case in the article, where we learn the patrons had a history of stealing meals). When someone is joining the mob without stopping to investigate, and it's someone I know to brilliant otherwise, it's very disheartening. Moreover, the emotional knee-jerking that happens has very real consequences, and when it turns out the indignation was misplaced, I see too much dismissing of the harm done as merely unfortunate collateral damage. In other words, learn to think for yourself, and chill out on Twitter, at least until you have more information than a 30-seconds news bite. The initial response is usually not much different than what I saw in the Smollett case, so that should be an example that causes everyone to wait before grabbing the pitchforks in the future.

bdcravens 7y ago

A critical thinker would wait until all context was clear, rather than join the mob and rapid-fire smash the retweet link. I would expect them to be more enlightened than the mob. I assume in their job when they encounter bad code, they don’t git blame and run to that coworker’s cubicle and start hurling insults at them. They likely calmly identify the context before taking action.

endorphone 7y ago
What context? That he was lying about the whole thing? It is interesting how frequently the Smollett case comes up, and coincidentally Trump just tweeted about it, from Japan, yet again (claiming that it's a "hate crime" against MAGA wearers, which is uproariously stupid and offensive). All of those mass killer MAGA citers, and countless and growing numbers of hate crimes against minorities, tossed aside because look, this somehow proves all of that untrue. You see the same thing by the incel crowd when a false rape account is found, then it's heralded from the mountaintops as if it invalidates the reality of rapes.
- bdcravens 7y ago
  You're missing my point (and maybe Smollett's a bad example as we didn't learn the truth for a few weeks; I see the same mob mentality in similar stories). I'm saying they shouldn't jump on the mob mentality without identifying the context of the situation (for example, the case in the article, where we learn the patrons had a history of stealing meals). When someone is joining the mob without stopping to investigate, and it's someone I know to brilliant otherwise, it's very disheartening. Moreover, the emotional knee-jerking that happens has very real consequences, and when it turns out the indignation was misplaced, I see too much dismissing of the harm done as merely unfortunate collateral damage. In other words, learn to think for yourself, and chill out on Twitter, at least until you have more information than a 30-seconds news bite. The initial response is usually not much different than what I saw in the Smollett case, so that should be an example that causes everyone to wait before grabbing the pitchforks in the future.