Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero • Hacker News Board

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#51

Post by wruza » Sat, Nov 04, 2017, 12:57 PM UTC

enlightenedfool wrote: post #38

Theodores wrote: post #23

Stalin had a saying, I paraphrase: One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic. I think the reaction to Laika's demise illustrated this. The exact quantity of dogs 'put to sleep' in 1964 in the USA is not known. However, I am sure that many thousands were 'put to sleep' every single day, with more than a million dogs euthanised in the USA over the year because that is what happens. Incidentally, the last…

Humans are funny in a way. Mourn and get emotional about dogs and pets and mercilessly slaughter chicken, cows and pigs everyday.

I think the perspective is more cynical: they mourn and reflect on “sad news” instead of actual events. Everyone knows that there is help needed to make human/animal situation more sane (in many senses of sane), but most of the help is putting likes on fb or choosing single data points to resolve.

Prove me wrong, but I think that sane relationships with animals should come from cold mind weighting statistical decisions (no matter if you’re going to eat, pet or test them), not from emotional sort of hypocrisy of either pet/slaughter way.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#52

Post by Houshalter » Sat, Nov 04, 2017, 3:06 PM UTC

amelius wrote: post #32

liberte82 wrote: post #20

I remember reading about Laika as a kid and how they sent up the dog in space and just let it die up there. It made me feel so bad and still does today. :(

Yes, but there are worse things happening to animals even as we speak, and for less noble purposes.

So what? People can't feel emotions towards abstract statistics. I'm sure if I could see every animal being abused world wide I would probably have a mental breakdown.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#53

Post by Houshalter » Sat, Nov 04, 2017, 3:14 PM UTC

rhizome31 wrote: post #47

dgut wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but if A is worse, doesn't mean B is good.

B takes attention and hides A. We feel for a single dog sent in space but have no feelings for pigs being slaughtered each second. We feel for a handful of people killed in NYC but are oblivious to 276 victims in Mogadiscio. It's important to put things in order sometimes.

B isn't hiding A. I doubt people would care for the pigs or mogadishians if the other stories weren't in their minds.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#54

Post by pvaldes » Sat, Nov 04, 2017, 6:53 PM UTC

dsnuh wrote: post #16

beat wrote: post #9

Adding to the cultural references... Jonathan Coulton wrote a superb song about Laika called "Space Doggity". The cage is very small, a tiny silver ball that makes you a hero the moment you step inside. The world is watching you, what you're about to do will live on forever, even though you'll be dead and gone, buckle up we're about to turn the engines on. Hello from Sputnik 2, I am receiving you. Thanks for the the…

There is also "Laika" by Arcade Fire. Not necessarily about the dog, but the only other song I can think of that even mentions Laika. https://youtu.be/C4EmXN9xvdE

And here is also "Laika", by Mecano (1988).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuijqjUrOS0

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#55

Post by tim333 » Sun, Nov 05, 2017, 2:21 PM UTC

jotm wrote: post #50

tim333 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was still sad and bit unnecessary though. Stalin wasn't really known for his ethics.

Did you miss the part about strays literally being killed off everyday (then and today for that matter)? How is sending a dog to space unnecessary by any means compared to that...

Unnecessary in that the Americans were able to do moon landings without leaving any dogs in orbit.