7 ms·

It is very unfortunate to see such comments on hacker news.

by zahabat 13y ago

hnthrow_65321 13y ago
I'm not sure what else we should be expected to say upon reading such a story, one of many stories that speak of yet another Arab child murdered for being the wrong type of Arab or wrong type of Muslim. Not to mention all the Coptic, Druze, Bahai, Persian, and Jewish children butchered. Denying the supreme sickness in Arab/Muslim society serves no one.
- Mz 13y ago
  I have heard it said that "most people are assholes, most of the time." By someone who was criticizing the world at large but was routinely an asshole to me. There is plenty of ugliness in the world. You don't "win" against that by piling on more ugliness. (Though I am currently pretty bitter and seeing no real point in trying to make the world a better place. So that isn't intended as criticism, just observation.)
- vacri 13y ago
  You can start by not making an account specifically to make such broad, racist comments.
  - hnthrow_65321 13y ago
    I am aware that they are broad comments. Do I really have to qualify each statement with a disclaimer that it does not apply to all Arabs or Muslims? That is obviously true. I don't even know what 'racist' means in this context beyond it being a cheap way to shut down discussion (which, coincidentally, is the reason that I chose to make a throwaway account). There is hard evidence that a majority of Muslims hold radically regressive views. I don't know what is gained by denying this. http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/ http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world...
    - vacri 13y ago
      What discussion? You're not having a discussion, you're just being bigoted. There is nothing in your original comment of substance. And while you complain of 'not needing a disclaimer', you have added exactly zero by saying what you have. How is the cause of peace in the middle east advanced by anything you have said? What new insight or understanding does it bring to the table. is the reason that I chose to make a throwaway account That you already knew what you were going to say was worthless speaks volumes. And just as it's 'obvious' that you say 'some are different', it's equally obvious that there's a lot of violence in the middle east, and that there's a lot of difficult cultural politics going on. So why say it? I'm going to stop feeding the troll now, which I should have done from the start.
      - coldarchon 13y ago
        Could you please troll somewhere else vacri?
vxNsr 13y ago
I think it's unfortunate that someone with a view different from the popular one is being shut down so aggressively. How can we hope to have a diverse and even discussion if we refuse to listen to any but those that we agree with? HN is a great place and as long as politics aren't involved we can usually expect an open discussion, but the minute someone says anything that differs from the standard liberal playbook on race or religion he's shoved out the door. The ironic part is I'll probably receive downvotes for bringing this to light.
- ekianjo 13y ago
  > anything that differs from the standard liberal playbook on race or religion ... and economics. You forgot that point :) If you happen not to agree with the Welfare State Theory and Keynesians, you are bound to get downvotes, too.
- zahabat 13y ago
  Okay, I'll bite. > The ironic part is I'll probably receive downvotes for bringing this to light. Of course you won't because you made a well thought-out observation. Contrast that to this generic, baseless statement: > Arabs and Muslims will blow the fuck out of each other's sons and daughters without a second thought. That is a not only a very simplistic view, it is also incorrect. It puts blame on some inherent personality trait of Arabs and "muslims". Anyone with a minuscule ability to critically think can see how this parallels statements like "black people have less intelligence". The OP is not bringing a new opinion; they are trolling. I would be more interested in seeing a thought out analysis by the OP, that takes into account the complex geopolitical landscape of the last 100 years, including armament of these so called terrorists by the US, drone strikes that kill Afghan and Pakistani children, etc.
rdl 13y ago
The irony is that if he'd just said "Middle east is the blackest of jokes; people will blow the fuck out of themselves, others, and their children, for generations", that would be both more true (since non-Muslims do this too), and less offensive. Humanity is the problem.

It is very unfortunate to see such comments on hacker news.

by zahabat 13y ago

It is very unfortunate to see such comments on hacker news.

I'm not sure what else we should be expected to say upon reading such a story, one of many stories that speak of yet another Arab child murdered for being the wrong type of Arab or wrong type of Muslim. Not to mention all the Coptic, Druze, Bahai, Persian, and Jewish children butchered. Denying the supreme sickness in Arab/Muslim society serves no one.

Mz 13y ago
I have heard it said that "most people are assholes, most of the time." By someone who was criticizing the world at large but was routinely an asshole to me. There is plenty of ugliness in the world. You don't "win" against that by piling on more ugliness. (Though I am currently pretty bitter and seeing no real point in trying to make the world a better place. So that isn't intended as criticism, just observation.)
vacri 13y ago
You can start by not making an account specifically to make such broad, racist comments.
- hnthrow_65321 13y ago
  I am aware that they are broad comments. Do I really have to qualify each statement with a disclaimer that it does not apply to all Arabs or Muslims? That is obviously true. I don't even know what 'racist' means in this context beyond it being a cheap way to shut down discussion (which, coincidentally, is the reason that I chose to make a throwaway account). There is hard evidence that a majority of Muslims hold radically regressive views. I don't know what is gained by denying this. http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/ http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world...
  - vacri 13y ago
    What discussion? You're not having a discussion, you're just being bigoted. There is nothing in your original comment of substance. And while you complain of 'not needing a disclaimer', you have added exactly zero by saying what you have. How is the cause of peace in the middle east advanced by anything you have said? What new insight or understanding does it bring to the table. is the reason that I chose to make a throwaway account That you already knew what you were going to say was worthless speaks volumes. And just as it's 'obvious' that you say 'some are different', it's equally obvious that there's a lot of violence in the middle east, and that there's a lot of difficult cultural politics going on. So why say it? I'm going to stop feeding the troll now, which I should have done from the start.
    - coldarchon 13y ago
      Could you please troll somewhere else vacri?

vxNsr 13y ago

I think it's unfortunate that someone with a view different from the popular one is being shut down so aggressively. How can we hope to have a diverse and even discussion if we refuse to listen to any but those that we agree with? HN is a great place and as long as politics aren't involved we can usually expect an open discussion, but the minute someone says anything that differs from the standard liberal playbook on race or religion he's shoved out the door. The ironic part is I'll probably receive downvotes for bringing this to light.

ekianjo 13y ago
> anything that differs from the standard liberal playbook on race or religion ... and economics. You forgot that point :) If you happen not to agree with the Welfare State Theory and Keynesians, you are bound to get downvotes, too.
zahabat 13y ago
Okay, I'll bite. > The ironic part is I'll probably receive downvotes for bringing this to light. Of course you won't because you made a well thought-out observation. Contrast that to this generic, baseless statement: > Arabs and Muslims will blow the fuck out of each other's sons and daughters without a second thought. That is a not only a very simplistic view, it is also incorrect. It puts blame on some inherent personality trait of Arabs and "muslims". Anyone with a minuscule ability to critically think can see how this parallels statements like "black people have less intelligence". The OP is not bringing a new opinion; they are trolling. I would be more interested in seeing a thought out analysis by the OP, that takes into account the complex geopolitical landscape of the last 100 years, including armament of these so called terrorists by the US, drone strikes that kill Afghan and Pakistani children, etc.

rdl 13y ago

The irony is that if he'd just said "Middle east is the blackest of jokes; people will blow the fuck out of themselves, others, and their children, for generations", that would be both more true (since non-Muslims do this too), and less offensive. Humanity is the problem.