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"Nothing has changed in that regard" really, nothing? Does anyone other than me notice this common tendency on HN: 1. Blockhain use case mentioned? Someone mu
by EGreg 1y ago
"Nothing has changed in that regard" really, nothing?
Does anyone other than me notice this common tendency on HN:
1. Blockhain use case mentioned? Someone must say "blockchain doesn't solve any problems" no matter what, and always ignoring any actual substance of what's being done until pressed.
2. AI issue mentioned? Someone must say "nothing at all has changed, this problem has always existed" downplaying the vast leaps forward in scale, and quality of output, ignoring any details until pressed.
It's like when people feel the need to preface "there is nothing wrong with capitalism, but" before critiquing capitalism. You will not criticize the profit.
It's not really a shibboleth. What's the name for this type of thing, groupthink?
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- cb321 1y agoI would just call it a "pattern", but if you want to be more specific Re your 1/2, perhaps a "pattern of over-simplification". Over-simplification is, of course, basically human nature, not specific to HN, and something "scientists" of all stripes fight against in themselves. So, there may be a better one-worder. EDIT: while oversimplification is essentially always a problem, nuance and persuasion are usually at odds. So, it's especially noticeable in contexts where people are trying to persuade each other. The best parts of HN are not that, but rather where they try to inform each other.