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I'm rather curious why this depiction is considered to be that of the prophet Muhammad. Is it said so somewhere in their paper, or do we all just accept whateve

I'm rather curious why this depiction is considered to be that of the prophet Muhammad. Is it said so somewhere in their paper, or do we all just accept whatever interpretation is handed down to us by the fundamentalists?

infruset 12y ago
Because the character is depicted similarly as in a previous cartoon by the same cartoonist: https://i.imgur.com/Lm4p71F.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Lm4p71F.jpg I don't get why you're being downvoted though. Have an upvote.
- PeterWhittaker 12y ago
  And another.
- lovelearning 12y ago
  Thank you for the upvote. If the downvotes were due to religious reasons, then I have to admit it is rather sad to see them on HN. On the other hand, if they were due to perceived ignorance or stupidity, then I accept them. From the link and history of the cartoons, I've reached the rather odd conclusion that anyone named "Mahomet" or "Muhammad" in a cartoon is automatically assumed to be the prophet Muhammad.
  - unclebucknasty 12y ago
    >if they were due to perceived ignorance or stupidity, then I accept them You were just asking an earnest question. What's actually stupid is the downvote feature itself. Upvotes can help promote good content and flags can call attention to inappropriate or problematic content. Likewise, comments can be used to express disagreement. So, what's the purpose of downvotes? Are we in preschool?
    - corin_ 12y ago
      If users should be trusted to push comments up, then why not down also? A down vote doesn't have to mean "this comment should not be on HN", it can be "I disagree with this comment" or "I think this comment should be lower down".
      - jacquesm 12y ago
        > I think this comment should be lower down You actually get two downvotes: if you think a comment should be lower down you can (but shouldn't) upvote all the other comments and downvote the one you think should be lower. Downvotes are an optimization.
        corin_ 12y ago
        Good point - and I think while you're right in saying "but you shouldn't" there are exceptions. I've done this a couple of times, only if two users made the exact same point, one a while before another. Maybe you'd argue I shouldn't have upvoted one and downvoted another as unfair karma wise to the later poster, but my decision to do so was based on improving where the comments are positioned (readers don't need to see the same view twice high up), not based on rewarding or punishing users.
      - unclebucknasty 12y ago
        Users do push comments down by pushing others up. If we are trying to surface interesting content, then what more do we need? And, why should your simple personal disagreement result in a comment being pushed down unless what we want is groupthink instead of earnest discussion? The proper thing to do, if one cares enough to express disagreement, is to explain why he/she disagrees. Then, there's the fact that downvotes negate one's "karma score", as if to say, "I disagree. I will take one of your gold-star stickers". It's really stupid and juvenile. But, I hope you will continue downvoting me here. The irony is just too delicious.
        corin_ 12y ago
        I can't down vote this particular comment of yours as it is a reply to me, but wouldn't if I could. But I've no problem if others wish to. Or if they want to up vote you, also fine by me. Other than caring about other users' scores, which I don't, I see no reason a user's view of "this comment is too high" is any less valid than the opposite. And bringing in the concept of "groupthink".. Surely showing us the up vote has the exact same affect in that regard?

infruset 12y ago

Because the character is depicted similarly as in a previous cartoon by the same cartoonist: https://i.imgur.com/Lm4p71F.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Lm4p71F.jpg I don't get why you're being downvoted though. Have an upvote.

PeterWhittaker 12y ago
And another.
lovelearning 12y ago
Thank you for the upvote. If the downvotes were due to religious reasons, then I have to admit it is rather sad to see them on HN. On the other hand, if they were due to perceived ignorance or stupidity, then I accept them. From the link and history of the cartoons, I've reached the rather odd conclusion that anyone named "Mahomet" or "Muhammad" in a cartoon is automatically assumed to be the prophet Muhammad.
- unclebucknasty 12y ago
  >if they were due to perceived ignorance or stupidity, then I accept them You were just asking an earnest question. What's actually stupid is the downvote feature itself. Upvotes can help promote good content and flags can call attention to inappropriate or problematic content. Likewise, comments can be used to express disagreement. So, what's the purpose of downvotes? Are we in preschool?
  - corin_ 12y ago
    If users should be trusted to push comments up, then why not down also? A down vote doesn't have to mean "this comment should not be on HN", it can be "I disagree with this comment" or "I think this comment should be lower down".
    - jacquesm 12y ago
      > I think this comment should be lower down You actually get two downvotes: if you think a comment should be lower down you can (but shouldn't) upvote all the other comments and downvote the one you think should be lower. Downvotes are an optimization.
      - corin_ 12y ago
        Good point - and I think while you're right in saying "but you shouldn't" there are exceptions. I've done this a couple of times, only if two users made the exact same point, one a while before another. Maybe you'd argue I shouldn't have upvoted one and downvoted another as unfair karma wise to the later poster, but my decision to do so was based on improving where the comments are positioned (readers don't need to see the same view twice high up), not based on rewarding or punishing users.
    - unclebucknasty 12y ago
      Users do push comments down by pushing others up. If we are trying to surface interesting content, then what more do we need? And, why should your simple personal disagreement result in a comment being pushed down unless what we want is groupthink instead of earnest discussion? The proper thing to do, if one cares enough to express disagreement, is to explain why he/she disagrees. Then, there's the fact that downvotes negate one's "karma score", as if to say, "I disagree. I will take one of your gold-star stickers". It's really stupid and juvenile. But, I hope you will continue downvoting me here. The irony is just too delicious.
      - corin_ 12y ago
        I can't down vote this particular comment of yours as it is a reply to me, but wouldn't if I could. But I've no problem if others wish to. Or if they want to up vote you, also fine by me. Other than caring about other users' scores, which I don't, I see no reason a user's view of "this comment is too high" is any less valid than the opposite. And bringing in the concept of "groupthink".. Surely showing us the up vote has the exact same affect in that regard?