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

GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

kotaku.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

121–130 of 167 posts

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#121

Post by ceilingcorner »

dvtrn wrote: post #115
ceilingcorner wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Again, learn how to have a conversation without the condescending attitude. This is a complex issue with multiple variables and costs. You are not automatically right because you agree with the mob. A cursory reading of history should make this obvious, but unfortunately that seems too much to ask of people nowadays. They'd rather spend their time looking down at those with the "wrong" opinion. > You think the risk i…

Millions die from obesity, car accidents, war, and the regular flu every year. Where's your outrage for that? Does this comparison actually make sense in your mind? Considering the cadre of medical professionals point blank asking us (repeatedly) to stop comparing this to the flu?

Absolutely. People are using potential death counts as a reason for all these draconian measures. And yet, there are numerous other causes of death with straightforward, clear solutions. But we don't shut down society over them.

In my mind, the main reasons that for the coronavirus hysteria are media overreaction, especially social media, and the fact that this "source of death" comes as a fast-acting virus, rather than something long-term and abstract like obesity. The whole "slowly boiling a frog" metaphor is apt here.

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#122

Post by edmundsauto »

throwawaysea wrote: post #91
braythwayt wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Excuse me, but let's stop this line of thinking right now. No business has a right to do whatever it thinks it must to survive. Tobacco companies don't get to do whatever they think they must to survive. If a restaurant is in trouble, it doesn't get to tell its employees to speed up service by not washing their hands, nor does it get to hire employees under the table for cash to avoid payroll taxes or minimum wage, n…

“While being good members of society” is an argument often used to justify suppression of free speech and other authoritarian tactics.

Yes, and it is also a pretty good argument used to justify people needing to do things that help society. Especially useful when it's not in your immediate preference or interest to do so. (Tragedy of the commons, fighting for your country, etc.)

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#123

Post by AdmiralAsshat »

Exmoor wrote: post #87
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #48

Hopefully there's a class-action lawsuit on behalf of any employees who become sick as a result of this decision. But then, this company is clearly on its way out. I'd be very suspicious at the moment that the execs are finding ways to funnel remaining funds to their golden parachutes before they declare bankruptcy.

I'm assuming you meant, "against Gamestop by any employees who become sick.." ?

Edited to clarify. Thanks!

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#124

Post by edmundsauto »

ceilingcorner wrote: post #98
ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> " Before throwing out insults, consider that GameStop probably has to try and stay open, or they'll go extinct. " At the potential risk of human lives? Even if we say that customers are coming in voluntarily, it isn't the executives at GameStop manning the counter at these stores; if it were, people would have less objection. Those staff are ordinary people like you or I.

This is a short-sighted view. If GameStop closes, they will go out of business. If they go out of business, these employees will lose their jobs. I see no reason why a GameStop employee can't just quit or refuse to come to work if he/she fears getting infected.

Do you support unemployment benefits for employees who quit because of coronavirus?

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#125

Post by braythwayt »

ceilingcorner wrote: post #105
braythwayt wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think the risk is negligible. The rest of the world does not. Good for you being a "contrarian," but neither you nor Gamestop get to act on each and every one of your contrarian thoughts. Lots of people, if left to decide these matters for themselves, decide that the risks of their behaviour are negligible. That's why Spring Break is crowded. But you aren't even framing this correctly. It is not just about the ri…

Again, learn how to have a conversation without the condescending attitude. This is a complex issue with multiple variables and costs. You are not automatically right because you agree with the mob. A cursory reading of history should make this obvious, but unfortunately that seems too much to ask of people nowadays. They'd rather spend their time looking down at those with the "wrong" opinion. > You think the risk i…

Let me see if I get this right: You are describing the response that is backed by every epidemiologist, every doctor, every functioning government in the world, as a "mob?"

That's a nice bit of mis-framing to accompany telling me to treat your ideas with more respect. The fact is, you are the one who agrees with the mob. Go to Florida. Enjoy Spring Break along with thousands of people who think the risk is negligible and are ignoring the actual researched science on epidemics and risk reduction.

The "mob" wants to go to work. The "mob" will line up elbow to elbow to get into bars that are open. The "mob" takes cruises. The "mob" squeezes into economy class on airplanes.

How about this for politeness?

PLEASE stop framing the world's response to a lethal global pandemic as some kind of panic that is not grounded in facts, expertise, or experience.

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#126

Post by xnyan »

mikestew wrote: post #76
KingMachiavelli wrote: post #46

At least working at a GameStop in 2020 is pretty close self isolating. TBH I don't quite understand the outlash against some business deciding to stay open. A GameStop doesn't take more than 1 or 2 people to run, especially right now, and transactions are pretty simple and inovlve minimal contact. And they have a point about selling products people may want during this time. As far as I know, Walmart will still sell…

Since things started shutting down here in WA, and I’m kind of house-bound due to recent surgery, I’ve managed to not only buy video games but an entire console (finally bought that Switch), all without leaving my house. And, no, of course I didn’t buy it from GameStop. They’re still in business? Frankly, this comes off as pathetic regardless, they can do what they want. But essential? I can’t download groceries, but…

> Frankly, this comes off as pathetic regardless, they can do what they want

This is factually incorrect. In the US, local athorities absolutely have the statutory authority to close nonessential businesses for the purpose of defending public health.

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#127

Post by dvtrn »

ceilingcorner wrote: post #121
dvtrn wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Millions die from obesity, car accidents, war, and the regular flu every year. Where's your outrage for that? Does this comparison actually make sense in your mind? Considering the cadre of medical professionals point blank asking us (repeatedly) to stop comparing this to the flu?

Absolutely. People are using potential death counts as a reason for all these draconian measures. And yet, there are numerous other causes of death with straightforward, clear solutions. But we don't shut down society over them. In my mind, the main reasons that for the coronavirus hysteria are media overreaction, especially social media, and the fact that this "source of death" comes as a fast-acting virus, rather t…

But we don't shut down society over them.

Can you imagine any possible reason for why that might be?

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#128

Post by ativzzz »

umvi wrote: post #102

Here's a crazy idea: In order to speed up this quarantine, we should ask for "herd immunity volunteers" who basically volunteer to get infected (healthy young adults only). They would go into their own quarantine until they are no longer infected in which case they can be released into society, and since they are now immune, may be suited for certain jobs that require contact with infected.

Yes, we should do this and send them to the essential jobs to keep society afloat, like working at a GameStop store.

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#129

Post by weare138 »

nv-vn wrote: post #61
mellavora wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Elon Musk is apparently pushing bullshit cures, specifically chloroquine This is a malaria drug. Also, it can be fatal if not properly dosed. It is especially problematic that Musk is promoting this, given that part of his reputation is that he gets his science right; he is bold, takes risks, but he at least has science/facts/truth/math on his side. https://decrypt.co/22946/elon-musk-shares-coronavirus-cure-p...

They've been using chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as a treatment in South Korea for over a month now. It's not a "bullshit cure" just because it's not FDA approved yet. There's a number of papers showing that these drugs can successfully treat COVID-19.

But it's not a cure either and it's a dangerous drug. Musk isn't a doctor and shouldn't be giving medical advice. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine has an extremely narrow threshold between an effective dose and a fatal dose. People are already trying to acquire it themselves and it's only a matter of time before someone accidentally kills themselves because of the misinformation surrounding it being pushed by non-professional pundits on Twitter.

Re: GameStop: We Can Stay Open During Lockdowns Because We're 'Essential Retail'

#130

Post by ceilingcorner »

braythwayt wrote: post #125
ceilingcorner wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Again, learn how to have a conversation without the condescending attitude. This is a complex issue with multiple variables and costs. You are not automatically right because you agree with the mob. A cursory reading of history should make this obvious, but unfortunately that seems too much to ask of people nowadays. They'd rather spend their time looking down at those with the "wrong" opinion. > You think the risk i…

Let me see if I get this right: You are describing the response that is backed by every epidemiologist, every doctor, every functioning government in the world, as a "mob?" That's a nice bit of mis-framing to accompany telling me to treat your ideas with more respect. The fact is, you are the one who agrees with the mob. Go to Florida. Enjoy Spring Break along with thousands of people who think the risk is negligible…

I don't live in the United States and I have never gone on Spring Break, so this is again an ad hominem attack, not an argument.

As I said before: decisions have consequences. Of course doctors will suggest the best medical solutions for medical problems. That is their job. But they aren't economists and they don't take into account bigger consequences of political actions. Long-term shut-down of the economy will result in more crime, more death, and lots of other bad unforeseen effects. Are these worse than the effects of the virus? I don't know, but it's certainly a conversation worth having.

It's not the doctors fault and I don't expect them to take this into account. What I do expect is the ability to have a rational conversation about the topic. Clearly, this is impossible in the current environment when people like you respond to any wrongthink with a personal attack.

Post reply on HN