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Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

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Re: Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

#41

Post by greenyouse »

Hey would she want a laptop for free? I have a 2007 macbook with lubuntu that works great. I used to use it for trips and it's a total workhorse.

The computer architecture is funky so it makes installing some distros a pain in the butt.

It was something like a 64-bit EFI bootloader for a 32-bit OS. The combo just doesn't work without compiling your own kernel. It's pretty uncommon. No biggie for someone that does C++ or embedded systems though.

Anyway, I'll shoot you an email with some pics and you can let me know what you think.

Re: Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

#42

Post by t-3 »

bequanna wrote: post #27
pcthrowaway wrote: post #24

I think we should just ignore everyone suggesting she get treated for substance abuse issues. We don't know her situation, and even if she is using drugs, there are many functional addicts. If she's capable of working, it'd be nice if someone in the area offered her something like contract to hire, where they could then see for themselves if she's capable of succeeding in the field (I am in Canada and on the verge of…

> The real problem right now is a lack of a social safety net Is that the real problem here? Unemployment in the United States is incredibly low and those who want to find good work for good pay are able to.

Unemployment numbers are among the most gamed in government, they are totally unreliable if you're trying to get a realistic view of anything. It's really hard to find work that pays above burger-flipping without a college degree or network in most areas, especially in tech fields. With the current downturn and layoffs combined with remote working craze, competition is higher than ever and it's much harder to get a foot in the door.

Re: Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

#43

Post by t-3 »

danielvf wrote: post #31
bequanna wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The real problem right now is a lack of a social safety net Is that the real problem here? Unemployment in the United States is incredibly low and those who want to find good work for good pay are able to.

Chattanooga has a 3.3% unemployment rate. By comparison Berlin, Germany has 9.1%. It's definitely an super hot labor market right now.

Are the numbers actually comparable? The US does not calculate unemployment in a straightforward or honest fashion.

Re: Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

#44

Post by phanimahesh »

inconceivable wrote: post #30
RecycledEle wrote: post #20

This will be an unpopular opinion, but are you being scammed? Is she asking you for money?

you need to think one level deeper. are we sure we're not being scammed? the amount of people willing to send complete strangers money over the internet is mind-blowing. check out /r/scams, and be amazed.

I know the internet is not a good place to be naive, but I find being overly cynical is not a good state of mind to be in - for me. I ocassionally override the "maybe scam" siren in my head if the help I provide is a small amount or non financial.

I can afford to give away the cost of a meal at a restaurant or other small equivalent once in a while without it making a material difference to my own finances.

Always be wary of giving away money, but sometimes a little money is the best help that can be provided.

Re: Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

#45

Post by thiht »

bequanna wrote: post #35
pcthrowaway wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm assuming you haven't seen people struggling with discrimination, especially trans people in conservative cities, trying to find these easy-to-get jobs which offer "good work for good pay". If you have suggestions of actual places in Chattanooga that would hire her yesterday and start payments in a week, I'm sure OP would be happy to pass that along. Otherwise, please consider how trans people might be limited by…

Quite the leap. I’m not sure why the original comment even mentions this person is trans. How is that relevant to the situation other than to trigger the “victim” alarm in some people’s minds? Also, how presumptuous of you to assume I’m cis. Be better.

Because the situation for trans people in the US is horrific and only getting worse and worse each week. Last example in date: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politic...

If I were trans in the US I’d honestly just flee the country before the next elections, and start over somewhere else.

Re: Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

#46

Post by freemint »

greenyouse wrote: post #41

Hey would she want a laptop for free? I have a 2007 macbook with lubuntu that works great. I used to use it for trips and it's a total workhorse. The computer architecture is funky so it makes installing some distros a pain in the butt. It was something like a 64-bit EFI bootloader for a 32-bit OS. The combo just doesn't work without compiling your own kernel. It's pretty uncommon. No biggie for someone that does C++…

I've read your email. Thanky you very much for the offer. I relayed it. I would like to make sure it actually works when it arrives at her place. I heard the keyboards of those laptops are fine which would be a huge plus over her programming on her phone.

Re: Ask HN: American friends life is falling apart badly. What can I do to help?

#47

Post by crepel »

1attice wrote: post #18
cwiggs wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Generally curious, how are trans people loosing access to health care in red states?

This is easily googled. Look what just happened in Missouri. Florida is next. And then there's the fact that dozens of red states have banned health care for trans youth. We will die by the dozen. By our own hand; by gunshot. 'Death before detransition,' as we say. But you will remember who really pulled the trigger, and who did nothing. It can and should haunt you.

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