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

WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

bbc.co.uk

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 321 posts

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#21

Post by samtheprogram »

gregoriol wrote: post #9
pdpi wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Internet mob mentality” doesn’t exactly conjure a positive image. It’s interesting to see a case where it is genuinely, unambiguously a good thing.

It's likely that the "mob" who did this considers such action as a joke, they are not really people with good intentions, more like trolling intentions. Even-though the outcome here looks positive, I don't think it's any good. They could as well have bought gallons of oil and spilled it in the ocean if it had been a good joke for them.

And yet, that’s not what they did, that’s just your image of the kind of people they are, and now you’re spreading that image without any basis.

This sibling comment deserves the most attention: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26500831

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#22

Post by MakersF »

gregoriol wrote: post #9
pdpi wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Internet mob mentality” doesn’t exactly conjure a positive image. It’s interesting to see a case where it is genuinely, unambiguously a good thing.

It's likely that the "mob" who did this considers such action as a joke, they are not really people with good intentions, more like trolling intentions. Even-though the outcome here looks positive, I don't think it's any good. They could as well have bought gallons of oil and spilled it in the ocean if it had been a good joke for them.

Possibly, we'll never know unless that happens.

But something that I noticed during the GME craze is how (some) people were making pledges to donate part of the profits to charities if things went well for them, and later showing proof of doing it.

IIRC someone pledged 20% of the profits thinking they'd donate a few 100s, and ended up donating several 10'000s, but staying true to the pledge.

If you dig the subreddit you'll see people donated to foundations for autism and homeless shelters, in addition to local food banks.

It might be another one of the usual internet "mobs", but it's the first one were I see unorganized individuals part of the community pushing others towards doing good, lead by example and show proof for it (although typically with some meme reference in it).

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#23

Post by make3 »

tener wrote: post #15

The title is confusing, perhaps worth changing "Reddit investors" to "Wall Street Bets users" or something similar. I genuinely thought the article would talk about owners of Reddit, not it's users.

also they don't adopt them, they fund their caretaking. this title is pretty poor.

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#24

Post by skohan »

Just to put this in perspective, the global population of mountain gorillas is 1,063, so this represents the symbolic adoption of over 3 times the mountain gorillas alive in the wild!

I hope this unexpected boon in capital will allow for some meaningful work in preserving and protecting these rare animals. It would be an interesting footnote in history if we can look back in 50 years and draw a line between an internet meme, reckless asset trading, and a change in the trajectory of the fate an endangered species.

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#25

Post by zozbot234 »

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #2

I don't see how is this news on hacker news. It's PR. Good intentions. Green washing. Charity. Total BS. Philantropy. Anything you want. But just because there is reddit in the title doesn't mean it's HN related, come on. Next time, what? Twitter CTO helped a grandma cross the street?

It's not just PR, it's literal gorilla marketing!

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#26

Post by jasode »

jwilk wrote: post #17

What does it even mean to adopt a gorilla?

>What does it even mean to adopt a gorilla?

The verb "adopt" isn't to be taken literally.

In charity or volunteering, it's similar to the template of "adopt-a-". Examples such as "Adopt-a-Highway" or "Adopt-a-Child" to sponsor a hungry child in Africa.

The Dian Fossey webpage for "Adopt a Gorilla!" has a list of 6 bullet items that tells donators what "adoption" means: https://fosseyfund.salsalabs.org/adopthomepage/index.html

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#27

Post by emteycz »

make3 wrote: post #23
tener wrote: post #15

The title is confusing, perhaps worth changing "Reddit investors" to "Wall Street Bets users" or something similar. I genuinely thought the article would talk about owners of Reddit, not it's users.

also they don't adopt them, they fund their caretaking. this title is pretty poor.

"Adopting" is what they pay for. It's symbolic of course, but it is called exactly that.

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#28

Post by skohan »

make3 wrote: post #23
tener wrote: post #15

The title is confusing, perhaps worth changing "Reddit investors" to "Wall Street Bets users" or something similar. I genuinely thought the article would talk about owners of Reddit, not it's users.

also they don't adopt them, they fund their caretaking. this title is pretty poor.

"adoption" is the terminology used by the foundation, and symbolic adoption is a known quantity in this type of operation so I don't have a problem with it.

However referring to wallstreet bets users as "investors" does seem like a bit of a misnomer...

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#29

Post by rossmohax »

skohan wrote: post #24

Just to put this in perspective, the global population of mountain gorillas is 1,063, so this represents the symbolic adoption of over 3 times the mountain gorillas alive in the wild! I hope this unexpected boon in capital will allow for some meaningful work in preserving and protecting these rare animals. It would be an interesting footnote in history if we can look back in 50 years and draw a line between an intern…

Gorilla squeeze is coming!

Re: WallStreetBets members adopt 3,500 gorillas in six days

#30

Post by 2038AD »

Kiro wrote: post #8
BiteCode_dev wrote: post #2

I don't see how is this news on hacker news. It's PR. Good intentions. Green washing. Charity. Total BS. Philantropy. Anything you want. But just because there is reddit in the title doesn't mean it's HN related, come on. Next time, what? Twitter CTO helped a grandma cross the street?

You completely misunderstood what this is. Short explanation: GameStop holders on r/wallstreetbets refer to themselves as "apes" and decided to crowdfund actual gorillas. This is internet culture 2021 in a nutshell.

Reminds me of when Gamergate people donated money for bowel cancer because of "butt hurt"
Post reply on HN