3 ms·

It is either a joke, or a troll. Either way why is it on HN?

• CRConrad 5y ago
  > It is either a joke, or a troll. Prove that.
  • randallsquared 5y ago
    That would be difficult, but I suggest it's very, very rare for someone to use the words "a modest proposal" in an essay and mean it to be taken totally seriously.
    • CRConrad 5y ago
      I don't believe that. For one thing, a huge proportion of people have simply never heard of Swift's essay; for another, it's quite possible to use the phrase in earnest even if you have. It's not as if ever since Swift it has had only his meaning. But, sure, maybe he didn't mean for it to be taken totally seriously. Maybe he just meant that to 60%. Or 90. (TL;DR: Prove that.)
• jcynix 5y ago
  Troll? No: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stross
  • hhlbf 5y ago
    Thanks for the picture, that explains some things.
    • CRConrad 5y ago
      WTF is that supposed to mean?
• gojomo 5y ago
  Because jokes & trolls often raise interesting questions, & prompt stimulating discussions?