A Navy Seal's Semester at Yale, at Age 52 • Hacker News Board

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

#131

Post by tptacek » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:21 PM UTC

manfredo wrote: post #113

tptacek wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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,…

Your comment makes a bunch of strong claims and backs them up with research results that appear to say the opposite thing. For instance: the American Academy of Pediatrics report you've cited is supportive of puberty blockers, and cites as sources other reports noting that they've been used safely for decades. If these are your best sources, the conclusion I draw is that your argument is weak.

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

#132

Post by tptacek » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:28 PM UTC

manigandham wrote: post #129

tptacek wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you know what is an isn't an objective truth? People disagree about things. You've just shut down a real (and inexplicably popular) opposing view, that vaccines are poison and bleach is medicine. What gave you the right to do this?

The definition of objective means it's untainted by interpretation. These facts are scientific: studied, documented and verified with proofs and experiments to a complete consensus on their acceptance as truth. Now people can still discuss and debate anything based on the facts as a narrative and reason for other topics and scenarios, but if you're debating the facts themselves then we're not going to get very far un…

How do you know what is and isn't untainted by interpretation? Who adjudicates? Do you think the "avoid vaccines drink bleach" people don't believe what they're advocating for, or think the science isn't on their side? They absolutely have coherent (stupid, but coherent) arguments about why they're the ones advocating for something studied, documented, and verified.

The point isn't that they're right; the point is that you can't simply declare one side of an argument "factual" and the other not and then walk away from it without acknowledging that some exogenous authority is what's allowing you to do that, and while we're probably all going to agree about the right authority for basic medicine, we're likely to disagree about the authorities on other issues.

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

#133

Post by ohashi » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:34 PM UTC

defen wrote: post #115

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...

That story is heartbreaking

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

#134

Post by hellomyguys » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:41 PM UTC

manigandham wrote: post #123

hellomyguys wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're misunderstanding who these spaces are for and what purposes they serve. Are also you saying difficult conversations cannot be had by people sharing similar interests or beliefs? And since when are all private clubs bad?

We're talking about the literal definition used in the article, and that does not match up with what you're claiming. There is no limitation on membership to "vulnerable" people, whatever that means, nor is any voice "dominant" by default. > " Are also you saying difficult conversations cannot be had by people sharing similar interests or beliefs? " No, but freedom for difficult conversations are the qualifier for a…

> > 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.

The quote literally says difficult subjects (read conversations) can be had within this space. Obviously we have different interpretations and my comment is adding my own perspective to it.

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

#135

Post by ganzuul » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:43 PM UTC

dang wrote: post #121

ganzuul wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think there's a confusion here: Smart people should be able to deal with subjects outside their comfort zone "Smart" is a cognitive trait; dealing with what is outside one's comfort zone is a different developmental axis altogether. Smart people are no better able to do this than anyone else, and may even have a harder time.

I see. I mean a different smart. General intelligence. It implies you learn the traits required to solve a hard problem. It's a habit of self-optimization.

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

#136

Post by asdfman123 » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:43 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #127

asdfman123 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> toxic social justice group What group is that? Where can I find such a group that only has toxic members interested in social justice? > do not believe that the work of dead white males Does everyone in that group believe that specific thing as well? > self-select out of classes with an emphasis on the western canon What percentage of those people outright reject the Western cannon as not worth learning? Do some of…

> What group is that? Where can I find such a group that only has toxic members interested in social justice? Well, there's this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yvzBFESqZs > It's like when people talk about "the south" as if it were one thing. I'm from the south, and if you get two random people who live in the southern US (or any part of the world) they will both be individuals with a complex system of beliefs It'…

Talk to people. Don't take a few seconds of something that they said and relentlessly mock them, like the guy is doing in that video you sent. That's why our country is so divided these days.

Again, there is such thing as aggregate behavior, but break it apart. How much of it is toxic, and how much of it do you just find weird/not quite your taste?

Going back to the video, you might think all that focus on triggers and anxiety is indicative of a greater toxic culture (evidence of aggregate behavior as you say) -- but were you there for the whole thing? Did you try to understand what they were coming from, and why they take that approach? Did you try to first discover with an open mind what you have in common and what your values fundamentally disagree with?

I'm sure in a moment of carelessness or stress you've probably done something stupid in traffic, but it would be unfair for someone to categorize you as a negligent or inept person without talking to you first.

I am kind of harping on this because I used to be pretty judgmental, but since breaking out of that mindset I've become a kinder and frankly much smarter person.

It's easy to treat someone like the "other" and project a lot of unfavorable traits onto them, because it's human nature. But it's important to try not to other-ize people.

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

#137

Post by awayfromhomenow » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:44 PM UTC

ganzuul wrote: post #43

HN is not a safe space by this definition.

definitely not if your opinion diverges from the hive.

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

#138

Post by awayfromhomenow » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:45 PM UTC

dang wrote: post #121

ganzuul wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think there's a confusion here: Smart people should be able to deal with subjects outside their comfort zone "Smart" is a cognitive trait; dealing with what is outside one's comfort zone is a different developmental axis altogether. Smart people are no better able to do this than anyone else, and may even have a harder time.

I tend to agree with you: sometimes smarter just means better at rationalizing your current ideology.

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

#139

Post by peteretep » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:48 PM UTC

jl2718 wrote: post #30

The thing that hit me after coming back from the war, was how absolutely meaningless the vast majority of life’s required set of petty exercises are. I understand the elitism and the challenge of conquering Yale. There seems, however, to be a monumental difference between him and the rest; that is, 26 years of hardship, quiet observation, and directed action in shaping the world before reaching toward a philosophical…

> versus young people desperately seeking that relevance for themselves, but only within the bounds of perfect physical and emotional comfort

This sounds exceptionally dismissive at first read — what’s the point you’re trying to make?

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

#140

Post by hellomyguys » Mon, Dec 23, 2019, 9:49 PM UTC

crisdux wrote: post #61

namirez wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> * The primary criticism against safe spaces is that they are an excuse to censor dissenting opinions. A common example is that people opposed to sex-reassignment surgery are not allowed into discussions about transgenderism* What a strange example! What is the "dissenting opinion" about sex-reassignment surgery and transgenderism? Is it not for individuals to decided? Why would this even be an issue in the public s…

We are off topic but I'd like to answer your question. It's increasingly become an issue in the public space because local governments are increasingly getting involved with this issue. Dissidents may believe that governmental power is being misused to further a harmful ideology and to push unproven and ill-advised treatments on children.

Right, but the flipside of that is people are using similar arguments they used against black civil rights like the horrors of integration and the dangers of mixed race marriages against LGBTQ+ community. At one point a majority of the country agreed with those opinions and that the government was overstepping its boundaries to further a harmful ideology.