4 ms·

I believe that the trend to call vast numbers of people selfish and irrational is itself inaccurate and part of in group psychology. People who are not like our

I believe that the trend to call vast numbers of people selfish and irrational is itself inaccurate and part of in group psychology. People who are not like our group are immoral. Perhaps someone is struggling with drugs or mental issues or poverty and needs to go out, perhaps there are other factors which should not be waved way as selfishness or being jerks? How can you tell? It's easier not to bother and have less empathy, ironically. We should take a page out of social scientists and ask these others how they think and feel and not simply cast them away to the immoral bin. I can detect a certain glee in people who are looking forward to harsher measures to punish the outsider. It's similar to what it was like after 9/11. Many people would do anything to save lives and punish the evil. We should take a step back before we step forward on people.

oefrha 7y ago
I’m pretty sure people who go to pubs and beaches aren’t people who are “struggling with drugs or mental issues or poverty and need to go out”.
- kiliantics 7y ago
  I don't know about beaches. I can easily go to a beach and stay more than 2m away from others and I get to enjoy lots of fresh air, exercise, and time outside of my tiny apartment. Definitely a necessary therapy in these times.
- adrianN 7y ago
  Only half-jokingly, people who go to the pub during a pandemic might have an alcohol problem.
  - perl4ever 7y ago
    Counterpoint - liquor stores are considered essential businesses, at least currently in NY, so why should being an alcoholic force you to go to a bar?
ryandrake 7y ago
I know this is a little politically incorrect an opinion for HN: While there are definitely people with underlying issues (drugs, poverty, mental health), many people are simply narcissistic jerks by nature, for no real reason. Asking nicely and pleading for them to behave will not work, nor will shaming misbehavior. Jerks respond only to incentives and disincentives. Without enforcement, all these "orders" about distancing and sheltering in place and not hoarding are just going to be ignored by the jerks, like any rule without enforcement.

oefrha 7y ago

I’m pretty sure people who go to pubs and beaches aren’t people who are “struggling with drugs or mental issues or poverty and need to go out”.

kiliantics 7y ago
I don't know about beaches. I can easily go to a beach and stay more than 2m away from others and I get to enjoy lots of fresh air, exercise, and time outside of my tiny apartment. Definitely a necessary therapy in these times.
adrianN 7y ago
Only half-jokingly, people who go to the pub during a pandemic might have an alcohol problem.
- perl4ever 7y ago
  Counterpoint - liquor stores are considered essential businesses, at least currently in NY, so why should being an alcoholic force you to go to a bar?

ryandrake 7y ago

I know this is a little politically incorrect an opinion for HN: While there are definitely people with underlying issues (drugs, poverty, mental health), many people are simply narcissistic jerks by nature, for no real reason. Asking nicely and pleading for them to behave will not work, nor will shaming misbehavior. Jerks respond only to incentives and disincentives. Without enforcement, all these "orders" about distancing and sheltering in place and not hoarding are just going to be ignored by the jerks, like any rule without enforcement.