Live data from Hacker News

What is Happening in Istanbul?

defnesumanblogs.com

211–220 of 519 posts

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#211
Coincidentally, I've noticed the same thing happening in Szczecin, Poland as per the shopping mall phenomenon. I lived there from 2005-2008, and there were a few shopping malls, nothing crazy. Every 1-2 years I've gone back, there has been at least one or two new major shopping malls put up, and that's just in the few places I frequent around the city center.

Besides the philosophical question of whether it's a good thing for a city, I just don't understand the economics of it. How do all these places coexist? Where does the demand and up-front money come from? Is there actually real demand at all, or is it just completely manufactured/delusional (build it and they will come!)? When I lived there, people's shopping needs seemed fulfilled, and the population has flatlined since then [1]. I heard tell of some EU grants involved. Overall, it just doesn't seem sustainable from an economic perspective, even in the short-term.

[1] http://www.citypopulation.de/php/poland-zachodniopomorskie.p...

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#212
post #115
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it is aimed at at the protestors, but it is a chemical usable to attack trees and they are in a park. It might very well be sort of 'we are going to kill this park one way or the other' type of situation. Once all the trees are dead, they could properly develop the park with relatively few protests. It is insane, of course, but it seems that some governments are prepared to do absolutely anything to the…

I'm not sure if you're serious, but what you're saying here is obviously grossly out of whack with reality. The police violence is crazy but Turkey is not that crazy. You may as well have claimed that Erdogan is planning to nuke the protesters.

Now _that_ is hyperbole, congrats!

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#213
post #135

By the way, can anyone tell me how a Revolution or occupation anywhere in the world has any link with Hacking that the news featured on HN?

What? I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say. Might want to edit it to make it clearer. Anyway, I think you are wondering why this news is on Hackernews. I'd say it's because there are a lot of politically conscience people here, who care about what's going on in the world. One point I think people miss is that the content of this site does not necessarily have to be related to tech (though usually is).…

Hackers are Humans as I know so they have interest in other stuff as well, does this mean we will be expecting posts about Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga in near future?

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#214
post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What a load of rubbish. What does this have anything to do with Singapore?!

You entirely miss the point. He's holding up Singapore as a shining example of the end-state of affairs that the government of Turkey is trying to emulate. Since we don't have a word for it yet, or we haven't learned it, we're saying "Singaporification" as a placeholder. People might have said "Nazification" before the word "fascism" was well defined.

> He's holding up Singapore as a shining example of the end-state of affairs that the government of Turkey is trying to emulate.

> I find Singapore to be the scariest dystopia in the world today.

What?

Anyway, Singapore is the greenest city on earth. It'll be more likely to see people here protesting the demolition of a shopping mall to build a park than vice versa. It's ridiculous to compare this to what is happening in Turkey now.

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#215
post #178

One of the more hackernews relevant aspects of this event is the role of the media. Turkey has a very robust media, with dozens of TV stations and newspapers, yet there are no laws preventing the media from participating other commercial activities, or owning both newspapers and TV stations, etc. In fact, most of the media is owned by large corporations. Add to this the large role the government plays in the economy,…

Turkey does not (currently) have a robust media. It has a very high rate of incarceration of journalists.

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#217

I have sympathy for the protesters but I do wish they had protested just as vehemently when the government began to silence the Press. A Free Press does not guarantee democracy but it does bark loudly and fiercely when it senses danger to the democracy.

I wish they had protested when the government started imprisoning generals, although admittedly it is harder to get worked up about the army than it is about the press.

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What a load of rubbish. What does this have anything to do with Singapore?!

I hate to reply to a comment like this, but for anyone new to HN, these folks come out whenever Singapore is mentioned in a negative light. For a previous rendition: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2621371

I hate to say this but I really think ignorant statements about Singapore need to be nipped in the bud.

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#219
post #178

One of the more hackernews relevant aspects of this event is the role of the media. Turkey has a very robust media, with dozens of TV stations and newspapers, yet there are no laws preventing the media from participating other commercial activities, or owning both newspapers and TV stations, etc. In fact, most of the media is owned by large corporations. Add to this the large role the government plays in the economy,…

A million raising their fist recording with a mobile device.

Re: What is Happening in Istanbul?

#220
post #158

"These people are my friends. They are my students, my relatives. They have no «hidden agenda» as the state likes to say. Their agenda is out there. It is very clear. The whole country is being sold to corporations by the government, for the construction of malls, luxury condominiums, freeways, dams and nuclear plants. The government is looking for (and creating when necessary) any excuse to attack Syria against its…

What a load of rubbish. What does this have anything to do with Singapore?!

Have you read his comment? Read it again. You can certainly disagree with his point but when you ask "what does it have to do with Singapore?" you are showing that you either haven't read it or English is not your first language (it isn't for me) and you just couldn't understand it (not worries then, I know how that feels some times).
Post reply on HN