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Its negativity like this that holds us back.

by canada_engineer 2y ago

guerrilla 2y ago
It may or may not be. It's negative like that that holds us back from finding out whether it's possible or not though.
- oopsallmagic 2y ago
  [flagged]
- oopsallmagic 2y ago
  [dead]
hdivider 2y ago
On HN, comments meant to stimulate optimism and willpower don't tend to get encouraged. Cynicism, skepticism, figuring out how things will fail -- as they inevitably will, of course -- or how if they succeed, they're corrupt or broken in some way...that is increasingly the coin of the realm here. :) In reality, your sentiment is correct. Sure, there are laws of physics. But they are also unknown, as the ones humans understand don't describe all observed phenomena by a long shot. There are still restrictions even so, but incredible unknowns await us. As they always have. What engineering-minded folks frequently don't understand is the need to apply sheer old willpower, after using all that intellect. Ending with a positive, with the notion that it can be done; we just have to figure out how.
- Zenzero 2y ago
  The unfortunate thing is many people seem to equate cynicism with demonstration of intelligence. While you generally need to be smart to come up with reasons why something might not work, it becomes a lazy way of thinking. Experience in life has taught me that it is far simpler to sit back and poke holes in things than to construct something new.
  - hdivider 2y ago
    Indeed! And as a European, I find it even more curious when Americans take this more cynical stance. I mean, what have we come to, when a European will go and take a risk, for a chance at an awesome discovery, and an American dare not? ;) The explorers who first went sailed into the deep Atlantic, with unknown seas and lands beyond, were full of doubts too -- but they did it anyway. Because they had to. In our time, we humans have to continually rekindle our explorer spirit, no matter how settled or distraught our ambient culture becomes. We must explore, with optimism and willpower -- and yes, with plenty of intellect and skepticism too, but end with optimism -- precisely in order to solve the actual problems our world faces.
  - somenameforme 2y ago
    It also works better for people's egos. Saying and trying things that might end up being wrong means a willingness to not only accept failure, but failure that might end up making you look stupid. By contrast appeal to 'what everybody knows' in a given time and you can never be wrong. Because even when you are wrong it can easily be hand-waved away as, once again, 'well everybody thought...' Though, thankfully for humanity - not "everybody"!

Its negativity like this that holds us back.

guerrilla 2y ago

It may or may not be. It's negative like that that holds us back from finding out whether it's possible or not though.

oopsallmagic 2y ago
[flagged]
oopsallmagic 2y ago
[dead]

hdivider 2y ago

On HN, comments meant to stimulate optimism and willpower don't tend to get encouraged. Cynicism, skepticism, figuring out how things will fail -- as they inevitably will, of course -- or how if they succeed, they're corrupt or broken in some way...that is increasingly the coin of the realm here. :) In reality, your sentiment is correct. Sure, there are laws of physics. But they are also unknown, as the ones humans understand don't describe all observed phenomena by a long shot. There are still restrictions even so, but incredible unknowns await us. As they always have. What engineering-minded folks frequently don't understand is the need to apply sheer old willpower, after using all that intellect. Ending with a positive, with the notion that it can be done; we just have to figure out how.

Zenzero 2y ago
The unfortunate thing is many people seem to equate cynicism with demonstration of intelligence. While you generally need to be smart to come up with reasons why something might not work, it becomes a lazy way of thinking. Experience in life has taught me that it is far simpler to sit back and poke holes in things than to construct something new.
- hdivider 2y ago
  Indeed! And as a European, I find it even more curious when Americans take this more cynical stance. I mean, what have we come to, when a European will go and take a risk, for a chance at an awesome discovery, and an American dare not? ;) The explorers who first went sailed into the deep Atlantic, with unknown seas and lands beyond, were full of doubts too -- but they did it anyway. Because they had to. In our time, we humans have to continually rekindle our explorer spirit, no matter how settled or distraught our ambient culture becomes. We must explore, with optimism and willpower -- and yes, with plenty of intellect and skepticism too, but end with optimism -- precisely in order to solve the actual problems our world faces.
- somenameforme 2y ago
  It also works better for people's egos. Saying and trying things that might end up being wrong means a willingness to not only accept failure, but failure that might end up making you look stupid. By contrast appeal to 'what everybody knows' in a given time and you can never be wrong. Because even when you are wrong it can easily be hand-waved away as, once again, 'well everybody thought...' Though, thankfully for humanity - not "everybody"!