Eliza a Play by Tom Holloway • Hacker News Board

Re: Eliza a Play by Tom Holloway

#11

Post by ForOldHack » Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 1:24 AM UTC

worik wrote: post #6

TMWNN wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same performative nonsense occurs in Canada. Land acknowledgements are the ultimate in virtue signaling; once they actually mean something, they suddenly end. Two overlapping tribal claims in New Brunswick cover 100% of the province. Thus, New Brunswick provincial employees ordered to not make land acknowledgements while working, because of legal case https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/first-nations-n..…

What is the counter factual to "virtue signaling"? I think you need to rethink what you expect!

The counterfactual to virtue signaling is genuine, anonymous, or quiet action—acting on moral convictions without seeking public recognition or social status.

While virtue signaling is a public, often insincere display of moral superiority (a "recognition desire"), the true alternative is "walking the walk" through tangible deeds.

Re: Eliza a Play by Tom Holloway

#12

Post by ForOldHack » Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 1:25 AM UTC

abrax3141 wrote: post #2

"Inspired by true events, this world premiere by award-winning playwright Tom Holloway is a gripping psychological thriller about the birth of AI, and the ethical consequences of outsourcing our humanity."

Well, that is a nice premise, I would bet that no humanity has been outsourced.

Re: Eliza a Play by Tom Holloway

#13

Post by laksjhdlka » Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:27 AM UTC

TMWNN wrote: post #4

petermcneeley wrote: post #3

Wow you know its gonna be good when the first thing you are hit on the page is some sorta bizarre land acknowledgement.

The same performative nonsense occurs in Canada. Land acknowledgements are the ultimate in virtue signaling; once they actually mean something, they suddenly end. Two overlapping tribal claims in New Brunswick cover 100% of the province. Thus, New Brunswick provincial employees ordered to not make land acknowledgements while working, because of legal case https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/first-nations-n..…

It _is_ performative (not sure it's nonsense) because it doesn't actually do or intend to do anything. It's cheap.

(I personally think it's also _disingenous_, because you can't undo things done 100+ years ago -- not because they are no longer "bad" but because you can't figure out how or who to undo it to, and you should instead focus on "who needs help today", because they are alive).

Re: Eliza a Play by Tom Holloway

#14

Post by TMWNN » Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 7:05 AM UTC

laksjhdlka wrote: post #13

TMWNN wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same performative nonsense occurs in Canada. Land acknowledgements are the ultimate in virtue signaling; once they actually mean something, they suddenly end. Two overlapping tribal claims in New Brunswick cover 100% of the province. Thus, New Brunswick provincial employees ordered to not make land acknowledgements while working, because of legal case https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/first-nations-n..…

It _is_ performative (not sure it's nonsense) because it doesn't actually do or intend to do anything. It's cheap. (I personally think it's also _disingenous_, because you can't undo things done 100+ years ago -- not because they are no longer "bad" but because you can't figure out how or who to undo it to, and you should instead focus on "who needs help today", because they are alive).

> It _is_ performative (not sure it's nonsense) because it doesn't actually do or intend to do anything. It's cheap.

Yes, that's my point. Once some risk—however small—came to be of land acknowledgements within New Brunswick actually having some legal or practical ramification, poof there they went.

Given how widespread tribal territorial claims are in Canada (the entire city of Richmond BC, for example), I expect more such prohibitions.

Re: Eliza a Play by Tom Holloway

#15

Post by suburban_strike » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:06 AM UTC

IncreasePosts wrote: post #7

worik wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be patient with Australians. They have have a terrible tradition of vicious racism. The indigenous people of Australia were only considered part of Australian society (e.g. counted in the census) in 1967. As a New Zealander visiting Australia the casual racism of white Australians is mind blowing. New Zealand is not free from racism, far from it. Australia is next level It will take a few generations for Australians…

What exactly is supposed to happen though? "Don't be horribly racist" is a nice idea, but it's not like we see people who put these acknowledgements up actually attempting to return the "stolen land" I think it makes sense to put it on the website if you're going to do it though, since it's a website about, basically, a building in melbourne.

> it's not like we see people who put these acknowledgements up actually attempting to return the "stolen land"

It's a humiliation ritual that legitimizes claims of theft and invites stochastic violence against the people outing themselves as colonizers.

It's like apologizing for dubious rape allegations; once you apologize for it you've admitted guilt, and invite retribution from everybody positioned to impose it.

Forgiveness is never offered so there's no point to going along with any of these charades. They condemn you either way.