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Defeatism and giving up on challenges is exactly what I want humanity to not do, but this kind of regressive society is being fed by social media constantly. To

Defeatism and giving up on challenges is exactly what I want humanity to not do, but this kind of regressive society is being fed by social media constantly. To live poor, to eat vegan food, to give up technological progress and to save energy. The fact that out of all places, HN advocates it, is truly an end of an era of human ambition. I come to HN for optimism and relentless push to change the world for the better.

nebula8804 4y ago
Why you bagging on vegan food? Sure not all vegan recipes taste good but it is quite healthy and makes people feel good (at least me). The fact that it can be cheaper and less energy intensive is just a bonus. Think of it another way, that is money and energy you save for something else, like synths!
- systemvoltage 4y ago
  That’s perfectly good and fine. I’ve seen veganism marketed as a way to reduce carbon footprint or some ulterior collectivist morality. Also add: Depopulation.
DoughnutHole 4y ago
Sometimes solving problems means working with the situation as it is and with what you actually have to work with. Very often that means doing more with less. The world has gotten worse many times before. We need to be able to find ways to cope with and mitigate that rather than just hoping that things will work out and that we can keep on having more, more, more, more and more without ever making sacrifices. Preventing further catastrophe can sometimes do a lot more to make the world better than making the next big shiny thing would. Ambition doesn't put bread on the table in and of itself.
fleddr 4y ago
Well, perhaps you've come to the wrong place. Most tech discussed here, and produced in SV, is basically hijacking people's emotions to click on things. That seems to be where trillions of USD and the world's best engineers are working on. Which is exactly my point: recalibration. Those resources should be spent instead on real tech that solves real problems. Making renewables cheaper/more efficient. Advancing lab-meat. Innovation in housing. AI manufacturing to deal with the population pyramid. Existential things. Not "click this ad".
uxcolumbo 4y ago
Define poor in this context. And what do you think is wrong with choosing food products that minimise / avoid cruelty, deforestation and pollution? And yes, veganism is also about making a moral choice of not killing other sentient beings when it’s not necessary for our survival. Why is that choice seen as negative?

nebula8804 4y ago

Why you bagging on vegan food? Sure not all vegan recipes taste good but it is quite healthy and makes people feel good (at least me). The fact that it can be cheaper and less energy intensive is just a bonus. Think of it another way, that is money and energy you save for something else, like synths!

systemvoltage 4y ago
That’s perfectly good and fine. I’ve seen veganism marketed as a way to reduce carbon footprint or some ulterior collectivist morality. Also add: Depopulation.

DoughnutHole 4y ago

Sometimes solving problems means working with the situation as it is and with what you actually have to work with. Very often that means doing more with less. The world has gotten worse many times before. We need to be able to find ways to cope with and mitigate that rather than just hoping that things will work out and that we can keep on having more, more, more, more and more without ever making sacrifices. Preventing further catastrophe can sometimes do a lot more to make the world better than making the next big shiny thing would. Ambition doesn't put bread on the table in and of itself.

fleddr 4y ago

Well, perhaps you've come to the wrong place. Most tech discussed here, and produced in SV, is basically hijacking people's emotions to click on things. That seems to be where trillions of USD and the world's best engineers are working on. Which is exactly my point: recalibration. Those resources should be spent instead on real tech that solves real problems. Making renewables cheaper/more efficient. Advancing lab-meat. Innovation in housing. AI manufacturing to deal with the population pyramid. Existential things. Not "click this ad".

uxcolumbo 4y ago

Define poor in this context. And what do you think is wrong with choosing food products that minimise / avoid cruelty, deforestation and pollution? And yes, veganism is also about making a moral choice of not killing other sentient beings when it’s not necessary for our survival. Why is that choice seen as negative?