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> It's not stuck for mysterious reasons related to a long history of humans cruelly exploiting other humans. That's not really true though, is it? Sure, the st

> It's not stuck for mysterious reasons related to a long history of humans cruelly exploiting other humans. That's not really true though, is it? Sure, the stuckness itself isn't mysterious. But the canal was built with deadly slave labor. The global shipping industry exists to facilitate exploitation of the developing areas of the world with manufacturing capacity. These monster cargo ships are an icon of the age of consumerism, which is largely responsible for the global pollution epidemic that will leave millions of unprivileged people underwater. Sure, big stuck boat is as funny as it is true. But to be honest, I don't like that the boat even exists. On the other hand, I do kind of like how wholesome of a disaster it is.

greggyb 6y ago
From TFA: > Again, there's a vast and sprawling ecosystem of current and historical horrors that made this situation possible – but we can't say that it's a situation that could never occur in a just world, because even in just worlds, things get stuck. Ducklings get stuck. Winnie the Pooh gets stuck! And now, the big boat is stuck. And I like it. I like knowing that there can be a big problem that's caused by something as straightforward and comprehensible as a stuck boat.
beaconstudios 6y ago
isn't it exhausting, being so mad at the world all the time?
- jonp888 6y ago
  He doesn't seem in any way angry to me. He even admits it's funny. There's no denying the shipping industry has a dark underbelly of exploitation.
  - beaconstudios 6y ago
    I guess my assumption is that if you're constantly trying to find the injustice in the world, that must get you mad, because the world and history are so full of injustice.
    - ljp_206 6y ago
      Well, yes. But there are ways to subdue, channel, and learn from that anger.
    - alanbernstein 6y ago
      I don't go looking for it, and usually I don't proselytize about it. I just like learning in general, and unfortunately that includes understanding the many problems that exist in the world. Mad? No, not really. Depressed, maybe, in an impersonal kind of way. I don't know how you can avoid that, if you understand the way the world works.
      - beaconstudios 6y ago
        The stoic answer would be to not get emotionally affected by things you have no influence over. Overly focusing on the bad things you can't affect just leads to constant negative emotions without you being able to do anything about said bad things. Or in other words, "don't think about it".
- slibhb 6y ago
  It's not being mad at the world, it's hating the world, which is even worse.
NikolaNovak 6y ago
I mean... That's explicitly addressed in the article,and not to make it personal, but it feels like you're inadvertently and very ironically proving his exact point - finding a sentence, taking it out of context, and then working hard to disagree or go on a tangent to discuss your preferred topic / perspective. "Again, there's a vast and sprawling ecosystem of current and historical horrors that made this situation possible – but we can't say that it's a situation that could never occur in a just world, because even in just worlds, things get stuck." There's a million problems out there, but this one is a simple. And yet some will still find a way to ignore that particular simple yet important problem,to discuss their preferred problem. This is not to say that your point isn't valid and important and crucial and worthy! But I'm a lefty pinky socialist liberal from Canada,and even *I am exhausted and daily rolling my eyes how we can't discuss the weather or paint of my kitchen or anything without going into... Other stuff. (With that in mind I'm up voting your post as it definitely contributed to discussion,even if not in a way you maybe intended ; I don't like the habit of people down voting an opposing point of view ;-()
gruez 6y ago
>The global shipping industry exists to facilitate exploitation of the developing areas of the world with manufacturing capacity. You do realize the reason why people work in the sweatshops is because their previous situation (subsistence farming) was much worse? It's not like the sweatshop owner rolled in and forced everyone to work at gunpoint.
eloff 6y ago
> The global shipping industry exists to facilitate exploitation of the developing areas of the world with manufacturing capacity. That's a such a depressing way to frame it. Look at the billion plus people global trade has lifted out of poverty. I'm aware the intention of outsourcing manufacturing was to save money, not be altruistic, but overall it's been amazing for the people of Earth.

greggyb 6y ago

From TFA: > Again, there's a vast and sprawling ecosystem of current and historical horrors that made this situation possible – but we can't say that it's a situation that could never occur in a just world, because even in just worlds, things get stuck. Ducklings get stuck. Winnie the Pooh gets stuck! And now, the big boat is stuck. And I like it. I like knowing that there can be a big problem that's caused by something as straightforward and comprehensible as a stuck boat.

beaconstudios 6y ago

isn't it exhausting, being so mad at the world all the time?

jonp888 6y ago
He doesn't seem in any way angry to me. He even admits it's funny. There's no denying the shipping industry has a dark underbelly of exploitation.
- beaconstudios 6y ago
  I guess my assumption is that if you're constantly trying to find the injustice in the world, that must get you mad, because the world and history are so full of injustice.
  - ljp_206 6y ago
    Well, yes. But there are ways to subdue, channel, and learn from that anger.
  - alanbernstein 6y ago
    I don't go looking for it, and usually I don't proselytize about it. I just like learning in general, and unfortunately that includes understanding the many problems that exist in the world. Mad? No, not really. Depressed, maybe, in an impersonal kind of way. I don't know how you can avoid that, if you understand the way the world works.
    - beaconstudios 6y ago
      The stoic answer would be to not get emotionally affected by things you have no influence over. Overly focusing on the bad things you can't affect just leads to constant negative emotions without you being able to do anything about said bad things. Or in other words, "don't think about it".
slibhb 6y ago
It's not being mad at the world, it's hating the world, which is even worse.

NikolaNovak 6y ago

I mean... That's explicitly addressed in the article,and not to make it personal, but it feels like you're inadvertently and very ironically proving his exact point - finding a sentence, taking it out of context, and then working hard to disagree or go on a tangent to discuss your preferred topic / perspective. "Again, there's a vast and sprawling ecosystem of current and historical horrors that made this situation possible – but we can't say that it's a situation that could never occur in a just world, because even in just worlds, things get stuck." There's a million problems out there, but this one is a simple. And yet some will still find a way to ignore that particular simple yet important problem,to discuss their preferred problem. This is not to say that your point isn't valid and important and crucial and worthy! But I'm a lefty pinky socialist liberal from Canada,and even *I am exhausted and daily rolling my eyes how we can't discuss the weather or paint of my kitchen or anything without going into... Other stuff. (With that in mind I'm up voting your post as it definitely contributed to discussion,even if not in a way you maybe intended ; I don't like the habit of people down voting an opposing point of view ;-()

gruez 6y ago

>The global shipping industry exists to facilitate exploitation of the developing areas of the world with manufacturing capacity. You do realize the reason why people work in the sweatshops is because their previous situation (subsistence farming) was much worse? It's not like the sweatshop owner rolled in and forced everyone to work at gunpoint.

eloff 6y ago

> The global shipping industry exists to facilitate exploitation of the developing areas of the world with manufacturing capacity. That's a such a depressing way to frame it. Look at the billion plus people global trade has lifted out of poverty. I'm aware the intention of outsourcing manufacturing was to save money, not be altruistic, but overall it's been amazing for the people of Earth.