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We Found Our Son in the Subway

opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com

31–40 of 182 posts

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#31
It seems to be a fictional story. The author is a playwright and a screenwriter. No last names are given (except the author), and the desire for anonymity is not explicitly stated.

I am surprised the NYT Editor did not ask the author to make it clear if it is a fictional or real story.

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#32

Great story. Can someone explain why this belongs on HN?

Would you have stumbled on it if it weren't? I know I wouldn't have. The internet can be too focused sometimes and we lose out on a lot of serendipity as a result.

A friend of mine, whom I know does not read HN, linked to this on Facebook before I saw it here. I would be willing to bet that most HN readers who have Facebook accounts will see it pop up in their news feed soon, if they haven't already.

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#33
post #31

It seems to be a fictional story. The author is a playwright and a screenwriter. No last names are given (except the author), and the desire for anonymity is not explicitly stated. I am surprised the NYT Editor did not ask the author to make it clear if it is a fictional or real story.

It's not. There is a clear byline with the author's full name. We generally understand that columns in the NYT are not fiction.

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#34
post #30

Love the story. When we talk about gay marriage and adoption I always need to query a little more, especially about the kids. What's about Kevin ? His life is "perfectly normal" (how stupid is this expression) ? He is happy ? Does he have problem with his sexuality ? Do anybody have any experience to share ? Please to be obvious, in neither way... (Why this is on HN ? Well, because I believe that HN is one of the bes…

>Does he have problem with his sexuality ?

You may not be aware of this, but this question will likely get you downvoted as it will be perceived as homophobia (or at least heteronormativity).

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#35

Great story. Can someone explain why this belongs on HN?

They used eMail to get back in touch with the judge to get married. eMail is way technological.

So by that logic we should start linking to every story about celebrities embarrassing themselves on Twitter.

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#36
post #33
post #31

It seems to be a fictional story. The author is a playwright and a screenwriter. No last names are given (except the author), and the desire for anonymity is not explicitly stated. I am surprised the NYT Editor did not ask the author to make it clear if it is a fictional or real story.

It's not. There is a clear byline with the author's full name. We generally understand that columns in the NYT are not fiction.

To me, it is unclear if the first-person narrative is a literary device, or refers to the author. I am really confused. I wish someone could clarify.

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#37
post #33
post #31

It seems to be a fictional story. The author is a playwright and a screenwriter. No last names are given (except the author), and the desire for anonymity is not explicitly stated. I am surprised the NYT Editor did not ask the author to make it clear if it is a fictional or real story.

It's not. There is a clear byline with the author's full name. We generally understand that columns in the NYT are not fiction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayson_Blair

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#38
post #30

Love the story. When we talk about gay marriage and adoption I always need to query a little more, especially about the kids. What's about Kevin ? His life is "perfectly normal" (how stupid is this expression) ? He is happy ? Does he have problem with his sexuality ? Do anybody have any experience to share ? Please to be obvious, in neither way... (Why this is on HN ? Well, because I believe that HN is one of the bes…

Parents are parents. Straight parents are parents. Gay parents are parents. There's no fundamental difference.

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that you shouldn't read this story. I wouldn't expect a story about the latest release of Twitter Bootstrap to show up in the Wall Street Journal, though, and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that the Sports section front page doesn't include stories about a recent fire, heroic as the firefighters might be.

It's strange to me that you are comparing HN to traditional media. Mostly* the editors of Hacker News are readers. The readers choose what they want to read. The readers have spoken. It's too bad you disagree with the people who voted it up, but there's no point in quarreling with the format of HN itself. * there's quite a bit of anecdotal evidence that moderators killfile individual articles, and we all know certain…

I don't disagree with you. Please look at what I was replying to.

Saying, "because it's a good story," doesn't address the question that this thread started with.

And the format of HN is very, very clear. Don't try to pretend that it is meant to be one's sole source of news.

Re: We Found Our Son in the Subway

#40
Honestly if there was more of a proliferation of this kind of news instead of the constant barrage of negativity and fear that is pushed upon us through mainstream propaganda er... media channels then perhaps we wouldn't need the TSA with their hands up our butts feeling around for shit that isn't there... pun intended.
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