4 ms·

I envy you. I am American. I live near, and teach at, a large state university -- which has closed for the spring semester and moved to online instruction. Th

I envy you. I am American. I live near, and teach at, a large state university -- which has closed for the spring semester and moved to online instruction. This past Friday there was a house party across the street -- presumably all students. Usually I am very chill, but this time I called the cops.

hanspedah 7y ago
That behaviour reminds me of dark age where neighbours spied on each other and reported them to the government. And the thing that frightens me is that you and several others are doing this voluntarily.
- Barrin92 7y ago
  there is absolutely no shame in reporting people to the government or the police who threaten the health of others by throwing a house party in the midst of a full blown pandemic, and to compare it to Stasi surveillance or whatever is disingenious and ignorant.
- candu 7y ago
  ...except that, in said dark ages, that got people executed for treason or witchcraft or what have you. Here, it could very well save lives. Many democratic governments have tried voluntary restrictions - some people are complying, but others don't seem to care. What else is there but to enforce those restrictions via previously existing channels (e.g. Quarantine Act in Canada)? IMHO, this is similar to reporting someone for smoking near a public building, dangerous / drunk driving, or any of a number of public health / interest infractions.
  - hanspedah 7y ago
    It not only could but it saves lives, I'm not disputing that. But the question is at what cost to the individual, the society, the economy and their future. What happens if the economy crashes? Is it reasonable and the price worth paying? We should be allowed to not only ask these questions but discuss them.
    - jarfil 7y ago
      If you want to ask those questions, you also need to ask what's the alternative. What happens if we continue business as usual and 5% of the population dies in a couple months? What if the virus mutates and another 5% die in the next couple months after that? What if immunity only lasts for half a year, and we get a 5% death rate every year from now on? Is it reasonable and the price worth paying?
      - hanspedah 7y ago
        Where are you getting the 5% from? You're just adding the 5% on and on prior to "What if's" that don't sound plausible to me. Although if you did quote experts there I would like to know, that could change my view. To my current knowledge it is more and more looking like its fatality rate is sitting around 1%. People, especially older ones, die, we often supress that thought in the western culture. And many die, everyday. If the economy crashes many more will die most certainly.
        rhc2104 7y ago
        hanspedah, people believe 5% is the death rate that occurs if medical services are not available (and would thus be much higher than the death rate if medical services are available). And if there is no mitigation, the vast majority of people that would need medical care wouldn't be able to get it.
        serf 7y ago
        what people , where? I have read a ton of conflict in that number, any citations would be appreciated.
      - deleted 7y ago
        [deleted]
    - impendia 7y ago
      > Is it reasonable and the price worth paying? It's a fair question, and it's one I considered before I called. I don't know what happened in the end. Very possibly nothing. I had hoped that a uniformed police officer would stop by, talk to the partiers, mention that there was a complaint, also mention something about COVID-19, urge people to go home, and then depart.
- ambicapter 7y ago
  People in the US have called the cops on parties since time immemorial. I would say it depends 90% on how old your neighbors are.
- jarfil 7y ago
  When someone threatens my life, I'm either going to call the cops, or try to kill them in self defense. Even if they're threatening someone else's life, you could still get away with killing them.
  - hanspedah 7y ago
    That fear and panic really got you it seems. Should we kill other people for infecting others with the seasonal flu virus as well, which also costs many lives per year? If you are endangered it is up to YOU to stay safe not the other way around. Do you know how many people die of car accidents? Should we kill all drivers just because they are potentially threatning someone elses life?
    - jarfil 7y ago
      That's what I said: if I am endangered, it is up to ME to remove the danger. Which, until there is a vaccine for the virus, means to remove all potential carriers from my surroundings. And don't start me on car drivers; there are accidents, and there are people willingly driving while intoxicated. The later should be shot on sight.
      - dang 7y ago
        Would you please stop posting these violent things to HN? It's not in the spirit of this site, at all. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- dang 7y ago
  Please don't take HN threads further into flamewar. Even if you're right, this helps no one and degrades this place. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
yongjik 7y ago
As a resident of the USA, thank you for your service.

hanspedah 7y ago

That behaviour reminds me of dark age where neighbours spied on each other and reported them to the government. And the thing that frightens me is that you and several others are doing this voluntarily.

Barrin92 7y ago
there is absolutely no shame in reporting people to the government or the police who threaten the health of others by throwing a house party in the midst of a full blown pandemic, and to compare it to Stasi surveillance or whatever is disingenious and ignorant.
candu 7y ago
...except that, in said dark ages, that got people executed for treason or witchcraft or what have you. Here, it could very well save lives. Many democratic governments have tried voluntary restrictions - some people are complying, but others don't seem to care. What else is there but to enforce those restrictions via previously existing channels (e.g. Quarantine Act in Canada)? IMHO, this is similar to reporting someone for smoking near a public building, dangerous / drunk driving, or any of a number of public health / interest infractions.
- hanspedah 7y ago
  It not only could but it saves lives, I'm not disputing that. But the question is at what cost to the individual, the society, the economy and their future. What happens if the economy crashes? Is it reasonable and the price worth paying? We should be allowed to not only ask these questions but discuss them.
  - jarfil 7y ago
    If you want to ask those questions, you also need to ask what's the alternative. What happens if we continue business as usual and 5% of the population dies in a couple months? What if the virus mutates and another 5% die in the next couple months after that? What if immunity only lasts for half a year, and we get a 5% death rate every year from now on? Is it reasonable and the price worth paying?
    - hanspedah 7y ago
      Where are you getting the 5% from? You're just adding the 5% on and on prior to "What if's" that don't sound plausible to me. Although if you did quote experts there I would like to know, that could change my view. To my current knowledge it is more and more looking like its fatality rate is sitting around 1%. People, especially older ones, die, we often supress that thought in the western culture. And many die, everyday. If the economy crashes many more will die most certainly.
      - rhc2104 7y ago
        hanspedah, people believe 5% is the death rate that occurs if medical services are not available (and would thus be much higher than the death rate if medical services are available). And if there is no mitigation, the vast majority of people that would need medical care wouldn't be able to get it.
        serf 7y ago
        what people , where? I have read a ton of conflict in that number, any citations would be appreciated.
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
  - impendia 7y ago
    > Is it reasonable and the price worth paying? It's a fair question, and it's one I considered before I called. I don't know what happened in the end. Very possibly nothing. I had hoped that a uniformed police officer would stop by, talk to the partiers, mention that there was a complaint, also mention something about COVID-19, urge people to go home, and then depart.
ambicapter 7y ago
People in the US have called the cops on parties since time immemorial. I would say it depends 90% on how old your neighbors are.
jarfil 7y ago
When someone threatens my life, I'm either going to call the cops, or try to kill them in self defense. Even if they're threatening someone else's life, you could still get away with killing them.
- hanspedah 7y ago
  That fear and panic really got you it seems. Should we kill other people for infecting others with the seasonal flu virus as well, which also costs many lives per year? If you are endangered it is up to YOU to stay safe not the other way around. Do you know how many people die of car accidents? Should we kill all drivers just because they are potentially threatning someone elses life?
  - jarfil 7y ago
    That's what I said: if I am endangered, it is up to ME to remove the danger. Which, until there is a vaccine for the virus, means to remove all potential carriers from my surroundings. And don't start me on car drivers; there are accidents, and there are people willingly driving while intoxicated. The later should be shot on sight.
    - dang 7y ago
      Would you please stop posting these violent things to HN? It's not in the spirit of this site, at all. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
dang 7y ago
Please don't take HN threads further into flamewar. Even if you're right, this helps no one and degrades this place. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

yongjik 7y ago

As a resident of the USA, thank you for your service.