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I like how Asimov put it: There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant
by sympil 2y ago
I like how Asimov put it:
There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
It was easy to convince millions of people that they shouldn’t vaccinate their kids. Such idiots can easily be convinced of anything.
- silexia 2y agoHow is disliking the massively growing cancer that is the federal government anti intellectualism? Have you ever gone to the DMV or the IRS or Social Security buildings and thought "this is a gathering of superb intellects?" ;) The federal government has no mechanism for removing bad agencies or employees. So it eternally grows like a cancer. But it's a cancer that can force any one of us individuals to do exactly what it wishes.
- sympil 2y ago…"this is a gathering of superb intellects?”… I havent come to HN and thought this either.
- nickburns 2y agoIn Comments Be kind. Don't be snarky. Converse curiously; don't cross-examine. Edit out swipes. Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive. When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. "That is idiotic; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3" can be shortened to "1 + 1 is 2, not 3." Please don't fulminate. Please don't sneer, including at the rest of the community. Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith. Eschew flamebait. Avoid generic tangents. Omit internet tropes. Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. Please don't use Hacker News for political or ideological battle. It tramples curiosity. Please don't comment on whether someone read an article. "Did you even read the article? It mentions that" can be shortened to "The article mentions that". Please don't pick the most provocative thing in an article or post to complain about in the thread. Find something interesting to respond to instead. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- Tadpole9181 2y agoI'm sorry, you're allowed to be snarky and disparage swathes of people and call institutions "cancer", but someone quoting you is breaking the rules? Give me a break.
- nickburns 2y agoMore so the snark and disparagement implicitly directed at this community. The "I haven't come to HN and thought this either" part to be exact.
- Tadpole9181 2y agoYou're directing yours towards tens of millions and they're pointing theirs towards a few thousands. Just because you direct your snark and disparagement to "the others" doesn't make your comment any more civil than theirs.
- renegade-otter 2y agoThis "massively growing cancer" is at most the size it has been under Reagan. It's been shrinking for decades. The Federal government is only a problem in the fever dreams of the far-right lunatics and those who profit the most from no one looking.
- nickburns 2y agoThis "massively growing cancer" is at most the size it has been under Reagan. It's been shrinking for decades. From what/where do you derive these assertions?