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RIP the Broccoli Tree

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51–60 of 149 posts

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#51

Why is this on Hacker News?

It's on Hacker News not because of the tree itself. It's on Hacker News because the Internet coverage of the tree is what made it notable enough to vandalize. Many of us build the tools of an online society. We live largely within that online society, but not exclusively.

Why wouldn't we care about the acts carried out offline being influenced by our activities online?

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#52

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.

See the top comment above yours, cutting down the whole thing once damaged seems to have been the proper way to care for the tree long term.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#55
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Or maybe we're remembering him for giving us a pithy example with an even more pithy punchline that explains in some small way a fundamental part of the human mind? In that way, Hatim al-Tai’s brother was wrong. He was remembered for his wisdom, so much so that I only know of Hatim al-Tai as a way to express this story about his brother.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#56
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

I've seen this trope be used so much on TV/movies that it's doubtful that this retelling would make much difference.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#57
post #51

Why is this on Hacker News?

It's on Hacker News not because of the tree itself. It's on Hacker News because the Internet coverage of the tree is what made it notable enough to vandalize. Many of us build the tools of an online society. We live largely within that online society, but not exclusively. Why wouldn't we care about the acts carried out offline being influenced by our activities online?

> because the Internet coverage of the tree is what made it notable enough to vandalize.

Interesting speculation, but trees have been vandalized for centuries...

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#59

Why is this on Hacker News?

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

Now we know what the "B" in B-tree stands for! ;)

Wikipedia has a section on the etymology of the B-tree name. One of the original inventors says "B" stands for "Boeing", "Bayer" (another inventor), and "balanced".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-tree#Etymology

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