A Mulching Proposal (2019) • Hacker News Board

Re: A Mulching Proposal (2019)

#111

Post by adfgadfhionio » Mon, Apr 17, 2023, 5:38 AM UTC

dang wrote: post #93

neilv wrote: post #6

The title "A Mulching Proposal" references https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal

Yes. We've reverted the title now - submitted title was "Algorithmic System for Turning the Elderly into High-Nutrient Slurry", which besides gutting the historical reference, gives way the joke and breaks the HN guidelines: " Please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait; don't editorialize. " https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

The original title is better. This style of satire works best when it's entirely deadpan. Putting a reference to A Modest Proposal in the title gives the joke away.

Re: A Mulching Proposal (2019)

#112

Post by andybak » Mon, Apr 17, 2023, 1:23 PM UTC

cs702 wrote: post #24

This parody is a brilliant take-down of the so-called FAT framework for making sure algorithms, including those powered by AI, are ethical. ("FAT" stands for making algorithms Fair, Accountable, and Transparent.) The authors show how FAT and other similar frameworks would fail to prevent the proposed launch of a new automated service for manufacturing different varieties of high-nutrient slurries: > Elderly volunteer…

The critique of FAT made in this article is convincing but easily remedied.

The paper obliquely argues that FAT does not evaluate the outcome itself, merely offering tools to validate the route to that outcome.

Therefore I propose that FAT is extended with an extra criteria - that of Reasonableness...

Re: A Mulching Proposal (2019)

#113

Post by lcnPylGDnU4H9OF » Mon, Apr 17, 2023, 2:41 PM UTC

q7xvh97o2pDhNrh wrote: post #76

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not sure which it’s supposed to be, per this reading. Is it similar to the “g” as used in “great” or as in “refrigerator” or as in “cough” (or a different sound which I didn’t think of)? This particular American read it initially as in “great”, for what it’s worth. From other comments it sounds like that’s intended if it’s supposed to sound like “fogey”.

That's just it — it's none of those! Off the top of my head, the only American English sound I can think of that'd come close would be the Americanized pronunciation of "Ghent," as demonstrated in this random YouTube video I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meuBUq3K3XY So take the "Gh" sound from "Ghent" in that video, and then tack on a long e — and there's your ghee.

So I believe you. But I also don't hear any sound that's different from what I'd use to say "get". It reminds me of people who say "melk" instead of "milk" and can't hear the difference. Thanks for the examples.

Re: A Mulching Proposal (2019)

#114

Post by dang » Mon, Apr 17, 2023, 8:24 PM UTC

adfgadfhionio wrote: post #111

dang wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. We've reverted the title now - submitted title was "Algorithmic System for Turning the Elderly into High-Nutrient Slurry", which besides gutting the historical reference, gives way the joke and breaks the HN guidelines: " Please use the original title, unless it is misleading or linkbait; don't editorialize. " https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

The original title is better. This style of satire works best when it's entirely deadpan. Putting a reference to A Modest Proposal in the title gives the joke away.

I'd say that even more about "Turning the Elderly into High-Nutrient Slurry", but I grant it's all pretty subjective in the end.

Re: A Mulching Proposal (2019)

#115

Post by jbuhbjlnjbn » Tue, Apr 25, 2023, 11:29 AM UTC

anigbrowl wrote: post #105

jbuhbjlnjbn wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like an excellent story base for a future horror movie: the tree morphs back into the dog, but with strange, sinister superpowers. I'd watch it for sure.

This is an extremely inconsiderate response to someone talking about an imminent bereavement. Read the room.

I disagree and think you are projecting your own emotion onto others and demand them to change their actions according to your emotions, which is an inconsiderate thing to do in general. The condescending tone is inappropriate, I meant no offense. Maybe the original poster appreciated a light-hearted joke? How would you know? "Read the room", yeah, that "reading" is very much subjective.

You know the difference between compassion and pityfulness? I feel compassion to anyone losing their pets, I was in the same situation many times. But pity won't make it easier or better.