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RIP the Broccoli Tree

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Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#61

Post by nolok »

kbenson wrote: post #55
nolok wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Whatever the reason might be for us remembering, my point still stands that by retelling the story we make it so that disrespecting others and their belief was indeed the right thing to do for him to be remembered, that is what lead to his goal being reached.

If the same thing happened but the story wasn't passed on, then it would not have been the right path to reach his goal.

For a modern reference, that is why I'm a strong supporter of not propagating the names of people committing things like mass killings for glory, like we've seen quite a few times.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#63

Post by keypress »

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.

I get it, a tree that has had a limb artificially removed is ugly - in my eyes at least. Even trees that are managed can look rough around the edges, whereas the natural shape of trees can be absolutely beautiful. I've tried to tame some large trees that I am stewarding, and to be honest they'd probably look better cut right back to the ground. Thin limb cuts you can get away with, but a severed fat limb looks pretty dreadful.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#64

Post by keypress »

nolok wrote: post #61
kbenson wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Whatever the reason might be for us remembering, my point still stands that by retelling the story we make it so that disrespecting others and their belief was indeed the right thing to do for him to be remembered, that is what lead to his goal being reached. If the same thing happened but the story wasn't passed on, then it would not have been the right path to reach his goal. For a modern reference, that is why I'm…

You can still learn from misdeeds. That's a rather clever parable.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#65

Post by cableshaft »

There's so many examples of this it's just so sad.

Joshua Tree on U2 album cover destroyed: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2971368/U2-fan-pilgr...

Kids knock down 16 million year old rock formation: https://military.id.me/news/idiots-ruin-18-million-year-old-...

One man accidentally killed the oldest tree ever: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-one-man-accide...

World's most isolated tree knocked down by drunk driver: https://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/earths-most-isol...

So sad how an act of stupidity by as few as one person can eliminate something of beauty that's been around longer than tens, hundreds, thousands of their lifetimes.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#66

Post by QAPereo »

nolok wrote: post #61
kbenson wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Whatever the reason might be for us remembering, my point still stands that by retelling the story we make it so that disrespecting others and their belief was indeed the right thing to do for him to be remembered, that is what lead to his goal being reached. If the same thing happened but the story wasn't passed on, then it would not have been the right path to reach his goal. For a modern reference, that is why I'm…

No, human nature makes that so, retelling this story just communicates that knowledge of human nature.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#68

Post by [deleted] »

nolok wrote: post #61
kbenson wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Whatever the reason might be for us remembering, my point still stands that by retelling the story we make it so that disrespecting others and their belief was indeed the right thing to do for him to be remembered, that is what lead to his goal being reached. If the same thing happened but the story wasn't passed on, then it would not have been the right path to reach his goal. For a modern reference, that is why I'm…

[deleted]

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#69

Post by cestith »

djrogers wrote: post #57
cestith wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

That's true, but the article was about a particular tree, a famous tree, that was famous from online exposure. There's plausible speculation that this fame is why it was vandalized, but that speculation was made in the article. It doesn't require speculation about that vandalism on my part to reason about why that makes the story quite fit for HN.

Re: RIP the Broccoli Tree

#70

Post by scott_s »

smacktoward wrote: post #21
2bitencryption wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

since this entire topic seems philosophical, I'll go down this path -- someone is sitting at home, feeling worthless, like their life is pointless and they could disappear without anyone noticing. but there's this tree everyone likes. people notice this tree. because you see lots of pictures of it, people must visit it often. it's a confluence. if you were to, say, scratch your name into the bark, people would notice…

The same reason people assassinate famous actors and political figures: because doing so means you'll be famous too.

I think it's close to, but not quite, that. Rather than wanting to be famous per se, I imagine they want to be able to observe their own impact on the wider world. A thrill that it's even possible - most life for most people sees little observable impact on most of the world. Such acts are a (terrifying, tragic) shortcut.

This is, of course, speculation. But this is a philosophical thread.

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