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Today you, tomorrow me

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Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#151

Post by dazzawazza »

lylejohnson wrote: post #68
dazzawazza wrote: post #2

If you live in the UK you will surely know Dave Gorman [1]. He did a TV show called American Unchained [2] where he attempted to get across America without using chain stores. In that series I saw an America that I recognise from the Americans I know and have worked with (I've never visited America). Americans are some of the most friendly, optimistic and outgoing people in the known universe. In the show he experien…

I checked for this DVD on Netflix but couldn't find it. Does anyone know if there's a way to see it other than ordering this DVD from Amazon UK?

Try contacting him on twitter @DaveGorman. He's pretty friendly on twitter.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#152

Post by hkr »

arebe wrote: post #73

When I was a teenager I worked at a local ski area parking cars. Every weekend I drove my '92 Blazer to the ski hill at 5am, clocked in, parked cars in the freezing cold, then drove a shuttle bus until the afternoon shift came on. I also worked on Christmas and New Year's Day since those tend to be big ski days. One Christmas, I got off work around 2pm. I was driving home to open presents, have dinner, etc. when I ca…

We need more people like you.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#153

Post by mcantor »

russell wrote: post #146
mcantor wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She didn't want your help. It's OK. The correct response is to quietly apologize as soon as she starts lecturing, and then immediately walk away. Why did you feel obligated to stay for the entire lecture? EDIT: I'm very interested to know why the downvotes are happening.

Probably because she was the sexist pig. People who assault you, physically or verbally, dont need an apology. I think it's pretty rude to let the door slam in someone's face.

That makes sense. I tend to roll out the "Sorry about that" in situations like that because apology can be used to signal more than just sorrow or guilt--it is also a widely accepted method of disconnecting from a conversation. Just because someone surrenders doesn't mean they agree with you.

Really, though; the apology isn't the gist of what I was trying to say. The gist is that the parent poster was in no way obligated to stand and take that lady's entire retarded rant.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#154

Post by boredguy8 »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #135
blhack wrote: post #113

If you live in IA, MN, ND etc. (I'm sure other places, but these are the places I've lived), this story won't seem very out of the ordinary. Once when I was in college, I flew to Arizona for Thanksgiving, then back to ND on a Monday to go to class. When I got back, it was one of the worst snowstorms of the year. It was horrible. The school was closed, the roads had been closed that night, snow seemed to just be mater…

I think it's a matter of environment. Harsh, deadly environments build communities, because without one, you'd probably die. However, if you're living someplace that doesn't regularly try to kill you, you can be much more self-reliant, and expect that from others as well.

I sure feels like summers in Phoenix are trying to kill you.

Yeah, a few minutes research and I can't say I really agree with your hypothesis. According to the CDC, 1999-2003 there were 3,442 deaths due to excessive heat with Arizona having 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5529a2.htm

So yes, Phoenix is trying to kill you, too. So there must be some other difference that causes social friendliness.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#155

Post by kareemm »

smallblacksun wrote: post #141
kenjackson wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Weird. I had a two friends get spat on their first day in the South, and it went downhill from there. They were an interracial couple. The local sheriff asked them when they planned on leaving, as if they were the problem. This was 2010, not 1950. I'm sure the South is more welcoming for some people, but I wouldn't assume it to be the case for everybody. And I'm sure it depends on what areas of the south you go to (i…

You ever been with someone with a strong southern accent in the north? I heard them called "hick" and "redneck" any number of times, and a black man said (direct quote) "I ain't helping no racist" when he was asked (politely) for directions.

Reminds me of the time I was visiting South Carolina from Montreal. I was in a gas station waiting to pay when I overheard two guys talking in the thickest southern accents imaginable. I couldn't hear what they were saying and I chuckled to myself at how much they sounded like dumb hicks.

It was only when they got closer did I hear that they were talking about nuclear physics.

It was a good reminder about judging books by covers, etc.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#156

Post by xcetera »

The uncertainty of tomorrow is really the point. If things are going well today, why not be generous and lend a hand to someone else today whilst you can. Things go round and come round, and a good deed one day inevitably becomes pay back for the good samaritan on the morrow.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#157

Post by blhack »

boredguy8 wrote: post #154
pavel_lishin wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's a matter of environment. Harsh, deadly environments build communities, because without one, you'd probably die. However, if you're living someplace that doesn't regularly try to kill you, you can be much more self-reliant, and expect that from others as well.

I sure feels like summers in Phoenix are trying to kill you. Yeah, a few minutes research and I can't say I really agree with your hypothesis. According to the CDC, 1999-2003 there were 3,442 deaths due to excessive heat with Arizona having 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5529a2.htm So yes, Phoenix is trying to kill you, too. So there must be some other difference that causes…

I think a lot of it has to do with roots. Phoenix is incredibly transient. 1.5 years ago, lots and lots of people had houses in my neighborhood, slept there, ate their food there, sent their kids to school there, etc. but nobody really considered it "home"; nobody really thought they lived there.

A lot of them were transplants from California, out in Phoenix because it was cheaper

"yeah, couple more years and I'll be back on the coast..."

When I lived in Minnesota, people were home. This was their town, so if they saw a member of their community stranded on the side of the road, they'd stop to help them because they recognized them as a member. Consider how helpful we've all seen members of HN be to one another. I think a lot of it is because everybody sortof feels like they're in the same club. We want to see HNers doing well because that means it's one of us doing well.

Out in Phoenix, nobody really even considers themselves a member of the club, they're all just visiting.

For me, in the last year, things have changed dramatically. There really are neighborhoods in Phoenix that people live in, as opposed to just sleeping in, luckily I've found one. The house I live in now is much, much crappier and older and smellier and, honestly, it's completely falling apart, but I'd take it 1000x over the purgatory I used to live in.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#158

Post by lhnn »

neild wrote: post #144
arvinjoar wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, "I'm going to get downvoted to hell" belongs on reddit, where people actually downvote people out of spite. I've not seen the same behavior here on HN (might just be that I haven't posted too much here). A better and more constructive preface would be "You are welcome to disagree with me here" or something like that, something that would be used in ordinary conversation.

I never, ever upvote anything that says "I'm going to get downvoted for saying this..." If you're expecting downvotes, who am I to disagree with you?

You're someone who immediately disregards the content of the post of a user who recognizes the possible controversy of a statement.

HN's downvoting system enables cowards to drown you out with impunity, without providing a rebuttal or alternative view. This is one area where Slashdot's system is so much better. (Note, one area. HN brings things to the table that Slashdot doesn't. So no, I'm not just "going to go to slashdot and leave HN" like some people just thought about saying).

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#159

Post by cubix »

I've backpacked around Mexico a couple of times in the last decade, and I found the people to be almost universally warm and friendly. One instance that comes to mind occurred at a bus station. I had just arrived (can't recall where now), and tried to arrange for a taxi. However, this station had a system I had not encountered elsewhere in Mexico or any other country: you have to buy a voucher at a kiosk inside the station and hand that to a driver outside. Somehow between leaving the kiosk and finding a taxi the voucher slipped from my hand. I climbed into the taxi and handed the driver the receipt instead, which I mistook for the voucher itself. The driver was upset and went to find the station managers.

By this point I had studied Spanish for a couple of years; I was by no means fluent, but usually knew enough to get by. However, under the stress of the situation, what ability I did have was completely gone; I started to become angry, inarticulate and flustered. A small group of employees encircled me and tried to speak to me in broken English, while I tried to respond in broken Spanish. After a few minutes, another driver entered the group and announced he had found the voucher. He easily could have pocketed it and collected the money as pure profit, but instead turned it in. I was impressed, and relieved.

Re: Today you, tomorrow me

#160

Post by lhnn »

mikesabat wrote: post #138

This story is touching. If you want to do something worthwhile today, take a second and call your Senator and tell them to support the dream act. It's a big issue for all immigrants, not just Mexicans. The vote is most likely this week and every call counts. http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/make-dream-a-rea... To tie it back to Hacker News, you'll also be using my company's technology to complete the call.

I don't believe the federal government should be bribing illegal immigrants in order to increase its size and scope. We don't need a bigger military.
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