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Saying it's sad and worth mourning doesn't mean you're not still heartless. People aren't numbers, and turning them into numbers is what makes you heartless for

Saying it's sad and worth mourning doesn't mean you're not still heartless. People aren't numbers, and turning them into numbers is what makes you heartless for making an argument like this. This is a prime example of a "shit hackernews says" post.

ryukafalz 7y ago
They’re responding to a comment that’s explicitly making an economic argument based on the numbers. I think it’s reasonable to respond to that on its own terms.
btilly 7y ago
While it is tempting to say that "people aren't numbers", a refusal to quantify human impacts just results in poor decision making. Because we still do make decisions. We still do allocate resources to our own pleasure that could have gone to saving someone else's life. We pass regulations limiting how much people can be exposed to chemicals that impact health. And trade off the convenience of being able to travel in cars for how many of us will die from doing so. We still make those decisions. The only question is whether we think clearly while making them, or whether we shy away from the ideas that could let us think clearly.
nate_meurer 7y ago
> This is a prime example of a "shit hackernews says" post. I'd say that applies to your post more than OP. Was that really necessary? In my family there are four grandparents in their 70's with various health problems, and my two young children. All four grandparents have commented that they're relieved that this virus appears to target old people more than children, and we'd all consider it to be at least less bad news if the numbers confirm that. My father in law, who is a doctor, remarked that he's less concerned about losing his own life because he's "already lived 90% of it". I'd never want to have to decide whether my parents or children get to live, but if I did, I'd choose my children in an instant. These are our opinions -- no more or less valid than your own. Do you suppose we, or anyone else for that matter, cares whether someone like yourself thinks we're "heartless"?
srinivgp 7y ago
If actually making measured, informed decisions without discarding all knowledge of numbers makes me heartless then I readily accept.

ryukafalz 7y ago

They’re responding to a comment that’s explicitly making an economic argument based on the numbers. I think it’s reasonable to respond to that on its own terms.

btilly 7y ago

While it is tempting to say that "people aren't numbers", a refusal to quantify human impacts just results in poor decision making. Because we still do make decisions. We still do allocate resources to our own pleasure that could have gone to saving someone else's life. We pass regulations limiting how much people can be exposed to chemicals that impact health. And trade off the convenience of being able to travel in cars for how many of us will die from doing so. We still make those decisions. The only question is whether we think clearly while making them, or whether we shy away from the ideas that could let us think clearly.

nate_meurer 7y ago

> This is a prime example of a "shit hackernews says" post. I'd say that applies to your post more than OP. Was that really necessary? In my family there are four grandparents in their 70's with various health problems, and my two young children. All four grandparents have commented that they're relieved that this virus appears to target old people more than children, and we'd all consider it to be at least less bad news if the numbers confirm that. My father in law, who is a doctor, remarked that he's less concerned about losing his own life because he's "already lived 90% of it". I'd never want to have to decide whether my parents or children get to live, but if I did, I'd choose my children in an instant. These are our opinions -- no more or less valid than your own. Do you suppose we, or anyone else for that matter, cares whether someone like yourself thinks we're "heartless"?

srinivgp 7y ago

If actually making measured, informed decisions without discarding all knowledge of numbers makes me heartless then I readily accept.