What You Can't Say (2004) • Hacker News Board

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#241

Post by JoshTriplett » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 2:33 AM UTC

ggreer wrote: post #68

Here are some things I think future societies will condemn us for: 1. Prison. Almost every modern penal system focuses on punishment rather than rehabilitation. I think that as our understanding of the brain improves, we'll be able to find the causes of violent behavior and cure them. Punishment will become cruel and unusual. 2. Eating meat (and other animal rights issues). Even if they're not conscious, most tasty a…

> 3. Banning assisted suicide for the elderly and terminally ill.

Too narrow a scope. Future societies will condemn us for not eliminating mortality faster.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#242

Post by JoshTriplett » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 3:04 AM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #106

ChuckMcM wrote: post #14

I find that in engineering circles theology and the notion of the existence of God is one of those 'moral taboos.' And advocating more nuclear power stations or private gun ownership. It is fascinating that were you to advocate gun control in the late 19th century, it seems nearly everyone would have laughed you out of the room. But that sentiment has reversed here in the 21st century. Always interesting to think abo…

Discussing God is a completely practical taboo, though. Most people, perhaps all people, don't arrive at their opinion on religion through rational thought. I make this claim due to the obvious fact that there are a lot of contradictory religious beliefs out there, and if most people used rational thought then you'd expect most people to have similar beliefs. They don't, thus most people aren't rational about it. Sin…

And it's sad that the statement you just made is often far more taboo than the topic itself.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#243

Post by Exenith » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 3:13 AM UTC

I'm pretty disappointed in most people's responses. Here's two real, actual taboos that no one wants to touch with a 20ft stick:

1. consensual incest

2. consensual pedophilia

All of these things are just utterly shunned. It would be unspeakable for me to argue in support of these in real life, except with very close friends and in a very detached manner. In fact, this has probably put me on some sort of list (especially considering the stuff I saw on 4chan last night...).

The interesting thing is that I would never want to do any of those things. Yet I know that my own repulsion is based on irrational disgust, and the reason for our shunning is also based on irrational disgust. When we take universal moral baselines -- empathy, compassion -- none of these taboos, assuming the sex is protected and consensual, harm anyone.

We've also got eugenics and polygamy, but I could probably argue for those without being shot. Oh wow, and consensual cannibalism. I'm usually the devil's advocate, but even this shit is starting to make me feel dirty.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#244

Post by camelite » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 3:14 AM UTC

onmydesk wrote: post #238

camelite wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So sexism is bad then. I guarantee you this is not something "you can't say", or goes against today's moral fashion.

What you get a reaction to is not sexism is bad. It is that sexism in favour of women is bad. You're not allowed to say that.

Yes, that's obvious now I've re-read your comment.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#245

Post by testacular » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 3:25 AM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #14

I find that in engineering circles theology and the notion of the existence of God is one of those 'moral taboos.' And advocating more nuclear power stations or private gun ownership. It is fascinating that were you to advocate gun control in the late 19th century, it seems nearly everyone would have laughed you out of the room. But that sentiment has reversed here in the 21st century. Always interesting to think abo…

I have a couple colleagues who are openly Christian, and will mention church events when asked what they're doing this weekend. Nobody cares.

I go shooting sometimes, and I sometimes talk about guns with another colleague. Nobody cares.

I've suggested that thorium reactors might be a great idea during lunch conversations, and nobody batted an eye.

These aren't terribly taboo taboos.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#246

Post by iopq » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 3:36 AM UTC

Stretching before running increases your risk of injury. This is because you inhibit the pain response and increase your mobility.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#247

Post by nkurz » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 4:09 AM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #14

I find that in engineering circles theology and the notion of the existence of God is one of those 'moral taboos.' And advocating more nuclear power stations or private gun ownership. It is fascinating that were you to advocate gun control in the late 19th century, it seems nearly everyone would have laughed you out of the room. But that sentiment has reversed here in the 21st century. Always interesting to think abo…

Testacular: You were banned a week ago.

testacular 42 minutes ago | link | parent [dead] | on: What You Can't Say (2004)

I have a couple colleagues who are openly Christian, and will mention church events when asked what they're doing this weekend. Nobody cares.

I go shooting sometimes, and I sometimes talk about guns with another colleague. Nobody cares.

I've suggested that thorium reactors might be a great idea during lunch conversations, and nobody batted an eye. These aren't terribly taboo taboos.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#248

Post by AgathaTheWitch » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 4:16 AM UTC

If I made known my views on a number of issues to my coworkers, I would quickly be looking for a new job and may even be shunned in the greater tech community.

I've made peace with that knowledge.

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#249

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 4:28 AM UTC

tunesmith wrote: post #205

gautamnarula wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sam Harris, a neuroscientist and philosopher, wrote an interesting post on Islamophobia and how he believes it doesn't actually exist, at least not in the framework that we normally consider phobias: http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/response-to-controve... The relevant part: The meaning of “Islamophobia” is not at all like the meanings of those other terms. It is simply not easy to differentiate prejudice agai…

I've never ready anything by Sam Harris that I've considered to be rational and well-reasoned. The guy's whole schtick seems to be making arguments that are valid but unsound. Here his premise is "But the only way that Muslims can reasonably be said to exist as a group is in terms of their adherence to the doctrine of Islam," which is completely false. He implies that anyone who practices Islam is "deeply committed t…

[deleted]

Re: What You Can't Say (2004)

#250

Post by girvo » Sat, Mar 22, 2014, 4:43 AM UTC

drzaiusapelord wrote: post #145

ggreer wrote: post #68

Here are some things I think future societies will condemn us for: 1. Prison. Almost every modern penal system focuses on punishment rather than rehabilitation. I think that as our understanding of the brain improves, we'll be able to find the causes of violent behavior and cure them. Punishment will become cruel and unusual. 2. Eating meat (and other animal rights issues). Even if they're not conscious, most tasty a…

Oh come on. These are all fairly popular opinions amongst a lot of people. I believe deterrence is important thus the prison status quo is fine. Try saying that at a party full of educated people. Everything thinks we can just teach people moralism and how to be good. In reality, you can't treat some/most and things like sociopathy are real.

I agree with you. But are all criminals sociopaths? Not even close...