3 ms·

deeply concerning? I'm some random internet stranger. Why would you have deep feelings about anything I say here at all without knowing anything about me?

uoaei 3y ago
I've noticed this "I care less than you" attitude and style of """debate""" since I shared a flat in college. Except it was about doing the dishes and vacuuming the carpet then. And most of them grew out of that mindset by now. It's not a more rational stance to deflect things like concerns, and especially not to act so flippant in the face of such grand risks.
- DoreenMichele 3y ago
  Given that I'm an environmental studies major and an American who has lived without a car for well over a decade, I doubt that I care less than you. I'm pretty seriously invested in literally walking the walk here. So odds are high there's a misunderstanding here somewhere.
  - uoaei 3y ago
    The rhetoric you use is indistinguishable to me from the "we have so many other things to worry about, and anyway we'll be fine because techno-utopianism blah blah blah" crowd. I don't think being concerned and doing stuff to help are mutually exclusive, but your reaction seems to frame them as such.
    - DoreenMichele 3y ago
      I haven't said anything like that, so I don't know why you are having a problem.
      - jraph 3y ago
        I had the same initial reaction while reading your first message, so I understand the problems people are having with it; they most probably think you are downplaying the climate change issue. But now that you clarified your stance, it's clear you weren't doing such a thing and I fully appreciate your first message too now. It was well written, another phrasing would have been too bad. It's just that here on HN it totally could have been written by some technophile not caring about climate change, or even a climate sceptic / denier, and personally, I'm fed up with this. You were right about there being a misunderstanding. Everyone involved in this discussion should read it again with a calm mind.
namaria 3y ago
It troubles me when people in a prominent and highly sought after technology forum reproduce language dismissive of a clear and present danger to human civilization. We can be better, language matters and I don't mean to make you feel called out, just to set the record that someone disagrees with the dismissive language. That's why I addressed my feelings about it.
- DoreenMichele 3y ago
  Language matters. I'm not in any way suggesting we shouldn't be taking climate change seriously. I'm suggesting people emote a great deal about it and then avoid taking serious action because it's too emotionally burdensome to face. I don't handwring about it precisely because I'm doing what is within my power to do, so I feel at peace.
  - namaria 3y ago
    Good for you. Sincerely. But it would seem that your language was perceived as dismissive by more than one person from the responses to this thread. And language, much like acting on climate change, is about consequences not intentions. Again. I saw language that concerned me, and addressed it publicly because at this instance I am participating in a forum and language and voicing opinions matter.
    - DoreenMichele 3y ago
      It takes two for communication to happen: one speaking, one listening and trying to understand. Catering to prejudices as if they are reality does not serve to educate anyone. So it's not something I'm inclined to do.
      - namaria 3y ago
        Ok. Thanks for letting me know how my words were perceived. I appreciate it. That's the only way I can improve my communication skills.
HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago
Oh, come on. By now you know well enough that there's a large contingent of HN that is continually worrying about something that they have no control over :-)

uoaei 3y ago

I've noticed this "I care less than you" attitude and style of """debate""" since I shared a flat in college. Except it was about doing the dishes and vacuuming the carpet then. And most of them grew out of that mindset by now. It's not a more rational stance to deflect things like concerns, and especially not to act so flippant in the face of such grand risks.

DoreenMichele 3y ago
Given that I'm an environmental studies major and an American who has lived without a car for well over a decade, I doubt that I care less than you. I'm pretty seriously invested in literally walking the walk here. So odds are high there's a misunderstanding here somewhere.
- uoaei 3y ago
  The rhetoric you use is indistinguishable to me from the "we have so many other things to worry about, and anyway we'll be fine because techno-utopianism blah blah blah" crowd. I don't think being concerned and doing stuff to help are mutually exclusive, but your reaction seems to frame them as such.
  - DoreenMichele 3y ago
    I haven't said anything like that, so I don't know why you are having a problem.
    - jraph 3y ago
      I had the same initial reaction while reading your first message, so I understand the problems people are having with it; they most probably think you are downplaying the climate change issue. But now that you clarified your stance, it's clear you weren't doing such a thing and I fully appreciate your first message too now. It was well written, another phrasing would have been too bad. It's just that here on HN it totally could have been written by some technophile not caring about climate change, or even a climate sceptic / denier, and personally, I'm fed up with this. You were right about there being a misunderstanding. Everyone involved in this discussion should read it again with a calm mind.

namaria 3y ago

It troubles me when people in a prominent and highly sought after technology forum reproduce language dismissive of a clear and present danger to human civilization. We can be better, language matters and I don't mean to make you feel called out, just to set the record that someone disagrees with the dismissive language. That's why I addressed my feelings about it.

DoreenMichele 3y ago
Language matters. I'm not in any way suggesting we shouldn't be taking climate change seriously. I'm suggesting people emote a great deal about it and then avoid taking serious action because it's too emotionally burdensome to face. I don't handwring about it precisely because I'm doing what is within my power to do, so I feel at peace.
- namaria 3y ago
  Good for you. Sincerely. But it would seem that your language was perceived as dismissive by more than one person from the responses to this thread. And language, much like acting on climate change, is about consequences not intentions. Again. I saw language that concerned me, and addressed it publicly because at this instance I am participating in a forum and language and voicing opinions matter.
  - DoreenMichele 3y ago
    It takes two for communication to happen: one speaking, one listening and trying to understand. Catering to prejudices as if they are reality does not serve to educate anyone. So it's not something I'm inclined to do.
    - namaria 3y ago
      Ok. Thanks for letting me know how my words were perceived. I appreciate it. That's the only way I can improve my communication skills.

HeyLaughingBoy 3y ago

Oh, come on. By now you know well enough that there's a large contingent of HN that is continually worrying about something that they have no control over :-)