3 ms·

> Referring to him diminutively as a bureaucrat is unfair. HNers have pretty much no understanding or respect for what it means to realistically be in public s

> Referring to him diminutively as a bureaucrat is unfair. HNers have pretty much no understanding or respect for what it means to realistically be in public service. They treat the realities as unfortunate errors ripe for optimization.

IncRnd 5y ago
You should look up the word bureaucrat. It was used correctly in the article.
- iudqnolq 5y ago
  A mayor isn't a bureaucrat by most definitions. Webster: Bureaucrat: A member of a bureaucracy Bureaucracy: a large group of people who are involved in running a government but who are not elected https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureaucracy https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureaucracy
  - IncRnd 5y ago
    Your definition from websters is called "the essential meaning" and is literally not the dictionary definition. It is very similar to using definitions from what google returns at the top of a search page - kind of useful but not the same as the definition of the word. Look below that in the next section. There you will find the definition of bureaucracy. That section is called "Full Definition of bureaucracy" 1a: a body of nonelected government officials b: an administrative policy-making group 2: government characterized by specialization of functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority 3: a system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation
ksdale 5y ago
I don't think this is unique to HNers talking about government, the reverse is also true, with many government officials assuming that most businesses are awash in cash that they can use to solve any problem (true of many businesses to be sure, but in the same way that government officials are scoring own goals, sometimes, not universally).
adolph 5y ago
> realities as unfortunate errors ripe for optimization Yes, it is a deeply optimistic and progressive worldview. It's a real shame people don't respect the unimprovable world as it really is.
- whateveracct 5y ago
  Never said that - I'm mostly commenting on how glib the commentary is. Not saying there isn't room for improvement or optimism.

IncRnd 5y ago

You should look up the word bureaucrat. It was used correctly in the article.

iudqnolq 5y ago
A mayor isn't a bureaucrat by most definitions. Webster: Bureaucrat: A member of a bureaucracy Bureaucracy: a large group of people who are involved in running a government but who are not elected https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureaucracy https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bureaucracy
- IncRnd 5y ago
  Your definition from websters is called "the essential meaning" and is literally not the dictionary definition. It is very similar to using definitions from what google returns at the top of a search page - kind of useful but not the same as the definition of the word. Look below that in the next section. There you will find the definition of bureaucracy. That section is called "Full Definition of bureaucracy" 1a: a body of nonelected government officials b: an administrative policy-making group 2: government characterized by specialization of functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority 3: a system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation

ksdale 5y ago

I don't think this is unique to HNers talking about government, the reverse is also true, with many government officials assuming that most businesses are awash in cash that they can use to solve any problem (true of many businesses to be sure, but in the same way that government officials are scoring own goals, sometimes, not universally).

adolph 5y ago

> realities as unfortunate errors ripe for optimization Yes, it is a deeply optimistic and progressive worldview. It's a real shame people don't respect the unimprovable world as it really is.

whateveracct 5y ago
Never said that - I'm mostly commenting on how glib the commentary is. Not saying there isn't room for improvement or optimism.