Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

gen.medium.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 188 posts

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#111

Post by dang »

forgotmylogin2 wrote: post #22

The author either has a fundamental misunderstanding of the criticisms against "safe spaces" or he's deliberately mischaracterizing them to earn the favor of his classmates. > What she meant by “safe space” was that she was happy to be in an environment where difficult subjects can be discussed openly, without the risk of disrespect or harsh judgement. If that's actually how safe spaces were implemented in practice,…

"Eschew flamebait. Don't introduce flamewar topics unless you have something genuinely new to say. Avoid unrelated controversies and generic tangents."

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#112

Post by abjKT26nO8 »

ganzuul wrote: post #76
abjKT26nO8 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A common example is that people opposed to sex-reassignment surgery are not allowed into discussions about trangenderism [sic!] because their opinions are considered "disrespectful" or even "violent" to transgender people. What does "being opposed to sex-reassignment surgery" even mean? I see two options: 1. Being opposed to others having the possibility of undergoing such a surgery. 2. Being opposed to undergoing…

By the definition of 'safe space' given by the article?

> By the definition of 'safe space' given by the article?

I don't understand your reply. Perhaps you meant to reply to a different comment?

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#113

Post by manfredo »

tptacek wrote: post #86
DuskStar wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that the horrible in question - giving puberty blockers and other transgender treatments to children - is already happening, and I think I remember a case in Canada where that was done despite the wishes of the parents.

All a puberty blocker does is delay the onset of puberty. They're part of the medical standard of care, and have no permanent effects that require reversal; their effects end as soon as they're taken. The whole point of them is to buy time for patients to more carefully consider their path going forward. They're practically the opposite of "unproven and ill-advised". I'm not seeing the "horrible" here. But more to th…

No permanent side effects? Risks of puberty blockers include compromise bone development, underdeveloped genitals, and infertility. I don't know where you're claiming that they're the "opposite of unproved and ill-advised". Using synthetic hormones to block puberty in adolescents and pre-teens is something that's only been done in the last decade or so. Most publications indicate that the safety is far from certain, due to the limited amount of time that these drugs have been used [1].

The potential benefit of puberty blockers is that it potentially makes children who transition to the opposite sex more aesthetically similar to that sex. But since the majority of people who identify as transgender as children desist [2] (they eventually identify as their sex at birth) many are going to endure the risks of puberty blockers for no benefit.

1. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/4/e201821...

2. https://www.kqed.org/futureofyou/441784/the-controversial-re...

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#114

Post by ganzuul »

dang wrote: post #110
ganzuul wrote: post #43

HN is not a safe space by this definition.

HN is certainly not a safe space. No large anonymous internet community can be.

It annoys me. Smart people should be able to deal with subjects outside their comfort zone but what I see here is the intellectual version of footguns employed more as a rule than an exception. - People downvote things they don't understand. - It's crazy. They can't even stand up for their opinions but do it anonymously, like cowards.

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#115

Post by defen »

hirundo wrote: post #3

From the author's photo his purple heart was not from a minor wound. He appears to be an amputee. I imagine that the dog in class was related to this. It is heartening that these students were able to respect this man for his service, or despite it. I would hope that the same would happen if his sacrifice was less evident. I'd think it well could have. People are so much better when they meet face to face without any…

https://www.stripes.com/news/navy-seal-dog-handler-how-a-fai...

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#116

Post by ganzuul »

abjKT26nO8 wrote: post #112
ganzuul wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By the definition of 'safe space' given by the article?

> By the definition of 'safe space' given by the article? I don't understand your reply. Perhaps you meant to reply to a different comment?

You said;

> 'Disclaimer: I also don't like the idea of "safe spaces"...'

The article defines a safe space as "...an environment where difficult subjects can be discussed openly, without the risk of disrespect or harsh judgement."

I suppose I'm really asking you if you read TFA.

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#117

Post by dsr_ »

DuskStar wrote: post #98
namirez wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> despite the wishes of the parents This is a complex subject and you're entitled to your opinion, but please don't misrepresent facts. The kid and the mother want the treatment, but the father is trying to block it. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/06/trans-teenager...

And that does change things!

Yes, it does.

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#118

Post by danharaj »

dctoedt wrote: post #109
danharaj wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'ma be real with you chief. That's hella shallow and pedantic. I think it would be hurtful and disrespectful to die on such a mole hill instead of just accommodating people over something so simple.

It never ceases to astonish me how ready some people are to feel hurt and disrespected — and to brand anyone who disagrees with them as "shallow and pedantic." I have no desire to expend scarce brain cycles trying to keep up with who wants to be addressed in what manner.

> I have no desire to expend scarce brain cycles trying to keep up with who wants to be addressed in what manner.

This is disrespectful. You might think that this disrespect is warranted- that's fine; one must make judgment calls about what to respect and what not to respect. It's still disrespect. Be yourself: own it :)

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#119

Post by runjake »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #29

If you want to see what a Navy SEAL's life is like, I highly recommend this documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGvvNKBGgUw "Documentary" makes it sound sterile or clinical, but in fact it's pretty badass. Kind of dispels the illusion that we're not pampered. It's so good I'll probably watch it again today. The diving section is the best, IMO. Imagine someone spinning you around underwater and ripping off pa…

Came for the BUD/s, stayed for the Patstone.

You'll get what I mean if you watch this documentary.

Re: A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52

#120

Post by coldtea »

anon9001 wrote: post #83
sillysaurusx wrote: post #29

If you want to see what a Navy SEAL's life is like, I highly recommend this documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGvvNKBGgUw "Documentary" makes it sound sterile or clinical, but in fact it's pretty badass. Kind of dispels the illusion that we're not pampered. It's so good I'll probably watch it again today. The diving section is the best, IMO. Imagine someone spinning you around underwater and ripping off pa…

This kind of training seems like it would cause a lot of injuries. Is that just an accepted part of it?

Getting shot at with live fire in combat would cause a lot more injuries if you're not trained...
Post reply on HN