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completely off-topic for HN -- and yet 151 points. please somebody save this site. it's spiralling out of control. pg, please

icebraining 13y ago
In China, toddler left for dead sparks debate about society's moral health (654 days ago) Alabama Town’s Failed Pension Is Warning to Cities and States (956 days ago) More Struggling Borrowers Face Pay Garnishment (1221 days ago) Millions of Unemployed Face Years without Jobs (1260 days ago) All submitted by pg himself over the years. How is this story so different?
- derefr 13y ago
  The latter three articles are economics pieces, which tend to spark good, scientifically-minded debates on HN. The first article is political, and I would hope that pg would think better than to post if he was given the same decision over again. It probably felt "less dangerous" to post it two years ago; back then, HN didn't have nearly so many people interested in discussing the political side of an issue--you know, the people you see in this thread :)
  - icebraining 13y ago
    What about Google Pressure Cookers and Backpacks, Get a Visit from the Feds (4 days ago)? It's very much a political article, even if it include a technical side. We all know what would be discussed.
bradbatt 13y ago
I keep seeing a small contention on HN say things like this, but there aren't hundreds of political posts — just a few here and there. The ones that do get posted are usually investigative, well-researched, interesting and important articles like this one. To me, the biggest value of sites like HN is always the comments. Here we have some of the brightest, smartest, most driven people around the world gathered together. I think it's interesting to see what others think about things like this. I don't want a political discussion every day, but reading comments on important subjects like civil forfeiture from really, really smart people is interesting and informative. It's likely that many on HN today will have a big impact in shaping our lives in many ways over the next decade and beyond — not just from a technology standpoint. I for one, don't mind the occasional off-topic post that provokes interesting and thoughtful discussion. (And BTW — this is my 2nd account, which I created in order to use my real name — my original account is 4 years old)

icebraining 13y ago

In China, toddler left for dead sparks debate about society's moral health (654 days ago) Alabama Town’s Failed Pension Is Warning to Cities and States (956 days ago) More Struggling Borrowers Face Pay Garnishment (1221 days ago) Millions of Unemployed Face Years without Jobs (1260 days ago) All submitted by pg himself over the years. How is this story so different?

derefr 13y ago
The latter three articles are economics pieces, which tend to spark good, scientifically-minded debates on HN. The first article is political, and I would hope that pg would think better than to post if he was given the same decision over again. It probably felt "less dangerous" to post it two years ago; back then, HN didn't have nearly so many people interested in discussing the political side of an issue--you know, the people you see in this thread :)
- icebraining 13y ago
  What about Google Pressure Cookers and Backpacks, Get a Visit from the Feds (4 days ago)? It's very much a political article, even if it include a technical side. We all know what would be discussed.

bradbatt 13y ago

I keep seeing a small contention on HN say things like this, but there aren't hundreds of political posts — just a few here and there. The ones that do get posted are usually investigative, well-researched, interesting and important articles like this one. To me, the biggest value of sites like HN is always the comments. Here we have some of the brightest, smartest, most driven people around the world gathered together. I think it's interesting to see what others think about things like this. I don't want a political discussion every day, but reading comments on important subjects like civil forfeiture from really, really smart people is interesting and informative. It's likely that many on HN today will have a big impact in shaping our lives in many ways over the next decade and beyond — not just from a technology standpoint. I for one, don't mind the occasional off-topic post that provokes interesting and thoughtful discussion. (And BTW — this is my 2nd account, which I created in order to use my real name — my original account is 4 years old)