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RIP the Broccoli Tree

kottke.org

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Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#44

Post by novium »

speakeron wrote: post #26
ArchReaper wrote: post #22

Why is this on Hacker News?

One of the definitions of hack is "cut with rough or heavy blows".

Also, "anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity" is on-topic here. I'd qualify this as that, especially since the philosophical discussion in a thread further up.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#45

Post by nolok »

mostafah wrote: post #30
ierolastic wrote: post #2

So many things about that are depressing, like, why would someone cut into a tree like that, and why would they decide that, if one of the trunks is gone, the whole thing needs to be decimated? Both are completely absurd.

There is an Arabic story about Hatim al-Tai’s brother. Hatim al-Tai was a great man, maybe the most generous person that has ever lived. He was a legend even when he was alive. One day people saw his brother peeing in the holy Well of Zamzam. This is the most sacred water in Islam. They asked him why he was doing such a thing. “My brother is famous and will be remembered forever in the history,” he said. “I can never…

So am I wrong to think that by retelling this story, we make him right, thus pushing people who similarly want to be remembered forever without being "wise" to do the same?

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#46

Post by kreetx »

golemotron wrote: post #29
ArchReaper wrote: post #22

Why is this on Hacker News?

Before clicking I expected the link to be about a data structure.

.. and someone else thought hacker news was about the lumber industry.

Seriously though, even though not related, this was a good article. I guess it goes without saying that if you care about something then don't obsess over it publicly too much, since the ruiners /will/ come.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#47

Post by [deleted] »

tptacek wrote: post #38
schiffern wrote: post #4

Note that it's a willow tree, so the vandal and workers may have "just" unintentionally coppiced it. Far from killing the tree, some of the oldest trees in the world are coppiced. Coppicing is supposed to happen in winter, but it's possible this tree could survive. Looking at the "before" picture, the tree might itself be a spray formed when an older tree was cut. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing

The vandals don't care whether the tree lives or dies; they care that nobody enjoys the tree while they have to be aware of it.

[deleted]

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#49

Post by [deleted] »

crusso wrote: post #32
rightos wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

​

Actually, yes. Some friends tend to magnify the insecurities that a lonely/insecure person might feel. What is doing something on a dare besides a play to battle the insecurity of being labeled a "coward"?

[deleted]
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