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There's no possible way this is going to lead to a good discussion when any sensible person will say "Hope he dies" or similar, which is unfortunate because it'

by kick 6y ago

There's no possible way this is going to lead to a good discussion when any sensible person will say "Hope he dies" or similar, which is unfortunate because it's such an interesting thing. My only thought that has much public value is that the timing of the US President's sudden and strange willingness to wear a mask after mocking them for so long looks suspicious under this light.

clairity 6y ago
there's almost no intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness exhibited in any of these covid-related threads, so they should be flagged according to the site guidelines. fear manifests irrationally when control is beyond reach, including wishing the death of someone they don't know other than via press snippets (which is not to say bolsonaro is a saint, but most of us in the US know next to nothing about him except "bad"). driven by fear and the resultant impulse to control, a priori arguments are made for all sorts of interventions, because it's so hard to accept that the most effective, balanced measure is simply to distance a bit from the less-acquainted, and when we can't, wear a mask.
- kick 6y ago
  fear manifests irrationally when control is beyond reach, including wishing the death of someone they don't know other than via press snippets (which is not to say bolsonaro is a saint, but most of us in the US know next to nothing about him except "bad"). This is a terrible viewpoint: it's not difficult at all to find out Bolsonaro's viewpoints and actions. We don't live in the 1950s any longer: politicians broadcast their every move over the network, and through every light you can look at him, Bolsonaro has been terrible for his country; under any sensible light, he's also a terrible human being. Just look at the things he's said, you don't need to restrict what you know to "press snippets."
  - clairity 6y ago
    yes, but that requires some level of interest in, and active search for, information about bolsonaro. how many americans other than folks with connections to brazil (or thereabouts) would that be? relatively few, i'd wager. wishing death without understanding is itself terrible, tyrannical actually. most americans don't have, or wish to seek, the context to make any definitive claims about a stranger, especially concerning death.
    - mercer 6y ago
      > yes, but that requires some level of interest in, and active search for, information about bolsonaro. how many americans other than folks with connections to brazil (or thereabouts) would that be? relatively few, i'd wager. Sure, but I'd wager most of the HN crowd knows enough to know that he's a piece of shit. I most certainly feel like it'd be wonderful and poetic if he died to Covid! Also what's the point of your comment other than expressing some weird kind of arrogance?
majewsky 6y ago
> when any sensible person will say "Hope he dies" or similar Any utilitarian philosopher will support that sentiment if there is reason to believe that his death will prevent a large number of deaths. Sorta like a practical instance of the trolley problem.

by kick 6y ago

clairity 6y ago

there's almost no intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness exhibited in any of these covid-related threads, so they should be flagged according to the site guidelines. fear manifests irrationally when control is beyond reach, including wishing the death of someone they don't know other than via press snippets (which is not to say bolsonaro is a saint, but most of us in the US know next to nothing about him except "bad"). driven by fear and the resultant impulse to control, a priori arguments are made for all sorts of interventions, because it's so hard to accept that the most effective, balanced measure is simply to distance a bit from the less-acquainted, and when we can't, wear a mask.

kick 6y ago
fear manifests irrationally when control is beyond reach, including wishing the death of someone they don't know other than via press snippets (which is not to say bolsonaro is a saint, but most of us in the US know next to nothing about him except "bad"). This is a terrible viewpoint: it's not difficult at all to find out Bolsonaro's viewpoints and actions. We don't live in the 1950s any longer: politicians broadcast their every move over the network, and through every light you can look at him, Bolsonaro has been terrible for his country; under any sensible light, he's also a terrible human being. Just look at the things he's said, you don't need to restrict what you know to "press snippets."
- clairity 6y ago
  yes, but that requires some level of interest in, and active search for, information about bolsonaro. how many americans other than folks with connections to brazil (or thereabouts) would that be? relatively few, i'd wager. wishing death without understanding is itself terrible, tyrannical actually. most americans don't have, or wish to seek, the context to make any definitive claims about a stranger, especially concerning death.
  - mercer 6y ago
    > yes, but that requires some level of interest in, and active search for, information about bolsonaro. how many americans other than folks with connections to brazil (or thereabouts) would that be? relatively few, i'd wager. Sure, but I'd wager most of the HN crowd knows enough to know that he's a piece of shit. I most certainly feel like it'd be wonderful and poetic if he died to Covid! Also what's the point of your comment other than expressing some weird kind of arrogance?

majewsky 6y ago

> when any sensible person will say "Hope he dies" or similar Any utilitarian philosopher will support that sentiment if there is reason to believe that his death will prevent a large number of deaths. Sorta like a practical instance of the trolley problem.