5 ms·

Shame on you, Japanese government. Shame on you.

theseadroid 7y ago
It's not like that Japanese government is consuming the whale meat. So why only blame it? seems deliberately missing the target.
- elif 7y ago
  Because consumers aren't capable of international treaties, which is the only mechanism that ended whaling.
  - theseadroid 7y ago
    Consumers are well capable of voting in Japan though, isn't it?
    - Zenbit_UX 7y ago
      Was their a we shouldn't hunt whale referendum or are you being deliberately obtuse?
      - SkyBelow 7y ago
        It appears that stopping whaling isn't popular enough for candidates to run based upon it, or if they do, not enough of them win. That puts it back on the voters.
- ozborn 7y ago
  Because there is only one Japanese federal government and Abe is supporting whaling at around the level of $50 million a year? Most Japanese may support whaling, but don't actually eat the meat. The government has also been requiring whale meat in school lunches which has upset parents who don't want their kids eating whale meat, for either ethical reasons or the sheer amount of toxins that accumulate in whale meat. Blaming the government is much more useful than blaming the public - policy can be changed, their position is articulated in press releases and documents. Trying to capture the diversity of the Japanese population and hold it accountable is an exercise in futility and is just muddying the waters.
- sabertoothed 7y ago
  Because I did not want to blame the whole people for it. But those in charge.
ufmace 7y ago
For responding to their citizens instead of foreign activists?
- soulofmischief 7y ago
  If your citizens want genocide, it's your job as public servants to teach them better. Big brother isn't your mom or dad but he is your big brother.
  - ufmace 7y ago
    Gee, what's wrong here? Let me see: 1. This isn't about genocide 2. Being a "public servant" and thinking that you know better than people and should teach them better contradict each other. 3. Big brother is supposed to be a bad thing. 4. More generally, actual genocide tends to start with the Government believing that it knows better than the people, and that it's their job to teach them how to think "correctly" against their wishes.
    - soulofmischief 7y ago
      I would love to explain to you how you're wrong but I can already see where this is headed and I already got rate-limited last night from a stupid discussion. For the record though I am not in agreement with mass surveillance.
    - EL_Loco 7y ago
      Regarding point 2, I don't know... the whole "I'm not better than anyone else" should be only part of your sentiment. If you think "I'm not better than anybody, including the least educated parcel of the populace, I don't have better ideas, better judgement, better views... well I guess then I sould go run for office", I doubt you'll be much good for the rest of society. You should be humble, and be able to truly check yourself when in a position of power. But the history of human societies is plagued with terrible beliefs and ideas about the world, and yes, better beliefs and ideas came about. We should hope that they continue to win over the bad ones.
dang 7y ago
Please don't post unsubstantive comments to HN, and especially not indignant flamebait. It's directly against the purpose of this site, and it invites worse from others. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

It's not like that Japanese government is consuming the whale meat. So why only blame it? seems deliberately missing the target.

elif 7y ago
Because consumers aren't capable of international treaties, which is the only mechanism that ended whaling.
- theseadroid 7y ago
  Consumers are well capable of voting in Japan though, isn't it?
  - Zenbit_UX 7y ago
    Was their a we shouldn't hunt whale referendum or are you being deliberately obtuse?
    - SkyBelow 7y ago
      It appears that stopping whaling isn't popular enough for candidates to run based upon it, or if they do, not enough of them win. That puts it back on the voters.
ozborn 7y ago
Because there is only one Japanese federal government and Abe is supporting whaling at around the level of $50 million a year? Most Japanese may support whaling, but don't actually eat the meat. The government has also been requiring whale meat in school lunches which has upset parents who don't want their kids eating whale meat, for either ethical reasons or the sheer amount of toxins that accumulate in whale meat. Blaming the government is much more useful than blaming the public - policy can be changed, their position is articulated in press releases and documents. Trying to capture the diversity of the Japanese population and hold it accountable is an exercise in futility and is just muddying the waters.
sabertoothed 7y ago
Because I did not want to blame the whole people for it. But those in charge.

ufmace 7y ago

For responding to their citizens instead of foreign activists?

soulofmischief 7y ago
If your citizens want genocide, it's your job as public servants to teach them better. Big brother isn't your mom or dad but he is your big brother.
- ufmace 7y ago
  Gee, what's wrong here? Let me see: 1. This isn't about genocide 2. Being a "public servant" and thinking that you know better than people and should teach them better contradict each other. 3. Big brother is supposed to be a bad thing. 4. More generally, actual genocide tends to start with the Government believing that it knows better than the people, and that it's their job to teach them how to think "correctly" against their wishes.
  - soulofmischief 7y ago
    I would love to explain to you how you're wrong but I can already see where this is headed and I already got rate-limited last night from a stupid discussion. For the record though I am not in agreement with mass surveillance.
  - EL_Loco 7y ago
    Regarding point 2, I don't know... the whole "I'm not better than anyone else" should be only part of your sentiment. If you think "I'm not better than anybody, including the least educated parcel of the populace, I don't have better ideas, better judgement, better views... well I guess then I sould go run for office", I doubt you'll be much good for the rest of society. You should be humble, and be able to truly check yourself when in a position of power. But the history of human societies is plagued with terrible beliefs and ideas about the world, and yes, better beliefs and ideas came about. We should hope that they continue to win over the bad ones.

dang 7y ago

Please don't post unsubstantive comments to HN, and especially not indignant flamebait. It's directly against the purpose of this site, and it invites worse from others. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html