A Sick People • Hacker News Board

Re: A Sick People

#31

Post by moralestapia » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:20 PM UTC

>I’m recently back from Baja California Sur.

Well, you went to one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I wouldn't want to leave either.

On a more substantial comment, people seem much more happy in appearance and on specific moments than what they actually are. The grass is always greener on the other side, etc. The solution is and has always been to try to be satisfied (not happy) with what you have wherever you are.

>We don’t care for our children, our elderly, or our communities.

This is truly an issue and imo it has reached unprecedented lows.

Re: A Sick People

#32

Post by iambateman » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:20 PM UTC

kyleblarson wrote: post #19

Then why doesn't the author just leave?

You and I both know it's not always that simple.

Re: A Sick People

#33

Post by Waterluvian » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:20 PM UTC

I used to travel to the U.S. every year or two for this or that and I always left thinking about just how stressed out I'd be if I had to live there. There's a sense of having to have your "guard up" so much. That someone or something is always out to screw you. That you need gates on your communities. That your kids' school is going to get shot up. That cops might be the enemy. That you'll depend on someone in a moment of vulnerability and you'll be part of the wrong tribe. That you're a medical event away from financial catastrophe. That even when you have medical insurance, they're trying to screw you. That healthcare is tied to employment. That your government really wants to !@#$ you and your civic duty is becoming a full-time job.

I think it's possible that a lot of this is subjective personal bias, and people may tell me it's not actually that bad. But I also wonder if the people who have to live their lives in it long term are just used to it. And if they were to step outside of it for long enough like this blogger, they might detox from the stress.

I think what I do know for sure is that "it's like this everywhere" feels certainly wrong. Everywhere is different and I don't accept that every single form of different is equal. There are better and worse versions of different.

Re: A Sick People

#34

Post by roggenilsson » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:21 PM UTC

inigyou wrote: post #9

comrade1234 wrote: post #4

I'm American but moved to Europe years ago where I am definitely happier. I like the superstitious idea that the American continent is cursed from the deaths of 55 million native Americans since the discovery of the western hemisphere. I mean, I do t believe it but it does make a good story.

But how can you stand the lack of innovation?

This is the funniest comment I have ever read on this website

Re: A Sick People

#35

Post by atan2 » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:21 PM UTC

It's so interesting how I feel the same way about where I live now... and even more interesting that every time I visit the US, people seem happier there than anywhere I've been before.

Re: A Sick People

#36

Post by w4yai » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:21 PM UTC

inigyou wrote: post #18

jjulius wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do we always need to be innovating? What's wrong with being content with what is?

China will beat us to AI.

So ? What did you expect, you think USA will remain number one for ever ?

Re: A Sick People

#37

Post by isgb » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:21 PM UTC

kyleblarson wrote: post #19

Then why doesn't the author just leave?

Imaginary lines called borders tend to be the biggest constraint.

Re: A Sick People

#38

Post by 0xdeadbeefbabe » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:22 PM UTC

kyleblarson wrote: post #19

Then why doesn't the author just leave?

Maybe the author is opposed to that kind of freedom.

Re: A Sick People

#39

Post by dudul » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:22 PM UTC

What nonsense. Of course, everything always looks so great when you're on vacation. Living somewhere full time and visiting for a few weeks is not the same.

There are plenty of kind, generous, happy people in the US. Wasn't there a gazillion memes about it during the World Cup?

This reads like twitter-level rage bait seriously.

Re: A Sick People

#40

Post by jon-wood » Wed, Aug 05, 2026, 2:22 PM UTC

jjulius wrote: post #7

eth0up wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Flag fiends: Have some appreciation for nuance. This is not a hostile comment -- it's a concurrence, and on-topic.

Not to defend the down votes, but it's not just one thing. The article praises the attitudes of Mexicans and French folk, both of which are also capitalist countries. It's capitalism to an extent, sure, but it's also the culture of a country.

There are few, if any, countries which have taken capitalism to the same extremes the US has. The concept of a country which is so at the mercy of capitalists that people will beg you not to call an ambulance for them when they’re injured is incredibly foreign to me despite living in the UK, a country renowned for its financial sector.

Which I guess is to say yes, it is the culture of a country, and the culture of the US strikes me as money above all else.