Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA • Hacker News Board

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#51

Post by AgentConundrum » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 9:19 AM UTC

jeffool wrote: post #44

AgentConundrum wrote: post #3

I was glad to see him call them out on that. I made a similar comment here on HN about a month ago[1] saying that calling on "nerds", to me, implied a lack of respect. The replies I received, however, seemed to disagree. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3358472

I'd like to have seen him make a comment to the effect of "really? Name calling? Are these people not aware of the names people call politicians?"

Perhaps in addition to what he said, sure. If I had to choose to use just one of the two, however, I'd definitely go with his "they're called experts" remark.

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#52

Post by forgottenpaswrd » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 9:26 AM UTC

mdonahoe wrote: post #27

kiba wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For last couple of centuries or so, each generation grows up with unprecedented change in their lifetime. For example, I enter elementary school, the internet started to take off and browsers were primitive. Nowadays, we can enjoy the convenience of movie streaming, fast browsers, and extraordinary rich video games(Dwarf Fortress, I am looking at you). So it doesn't make sense to me that congressmen are literal dinos…

I dont disagree with your thesis, but your example spans a mere twenty years.

My parents saw airplanes take off as a transport form anybody could use, it really changed the world.

Before that, it was affordable cars, it changed how people live, work and relax.

Before that TV.

Before that the discovery of the nuclear bomb, nuclear energy, the world would be never the same.

Before that penicillin, filtered water(no diseases in water), radio, telephone, polymers, natural gas pipes, electric light...

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#53

Post by jeffool » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 9:28 AM UTC

AgentConundrum wrote: post #51

jeffool wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to have seen him make a comment to the effect of "really? Name calling? Are these people not aware of the names people call politicians?"

Perhaps in addition to what he said, sure. If I had to choose to use just one of the two, however, I'd definitely go with his "they're called experts" remark.

Oh, agreed. Just the thought of politicians calling people names is so crazy to me, is all.

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#54

Post by bad_user » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 9:33 AM UTC

galaktor wrote: post #29

The video linked in the article was not available here (Ireland), so for all others affected, this should be it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSc9eKOcH3w

It's funny because it is available in Romania/Europe.

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#55

Post by tfb » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 9:41 AM UTC

trentmb wrote: post #20

nekojima wrote: post #13

I am happy to be called a geek, nerd or expert. Thank you for the complement. :-)

In this case, however, they're laughing at you, not with you.

The joke is on them, however. "Nerds" always win in the end.

This whole SOPA thing - or variations thereof - will only be small hiccup in the grand scheme of things. The advancement of technology and its ensuing freedom will trump any current setbacks. When the older generations move on and those who have grown up with the power of technology at their fingertips are in power, who have relatively open minds and understand the freedoms that technology provides, I think we'll really see some accelerated progression in both tech and overall quality of life for everyone.

We should definitely continue to try to pave the way for future generations and reduce these setbacks, but I believe the fact still remains that freedom through technology is inevitable. It may take another couple of centuries of dealing with ignorant politicians, general closed-mindedness, and corporation unwillingness to innovate and change with the times... but we'll get there. I just wish we could live to see it.

I'm afraid future generations won't appreciate it like we would.

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#56

Post by timthorn » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 9:58 AM UTC

saulrh wrote: post #48

kiba wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For last couple of centuries or so, each generation grows up with unprecedented change in their lifetime. For example, I enter elementary school, the internet started to take off and browsers were primitive. Nowadays, we can enjoy the convenience of movie streaming, fast browsers, and extraordinary rich video games(Dwarf Fortress, I am looking at you). So it doesn't make sense to me that congressmen are literal dinos…

For last couple of centuries or so, each generation grows up with unprecedented change in their lifetime. I'd argue that this generation's changes aren't just unprecedented, but in an entirely different category. Not just in size, but in speed and extent. The cell phone alone is the most fundamental change in society in human history; suddenly, every person on earth can communicate instantly with almost any other per…

> The cell phone alone is the most fundamental change in society in human history

What about the railways?

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#57

Post by DanBC » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 10:02 AM UTC

saulrh wrote: post #48

kiba wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For last couple of centuries or so, each generation grows up with unprecedented change in their lifetime. For example, I enter elementary school, the internet started to take off and browsers were primitive. Nowadays, we can enjoy the convenience of movie streaming, fast browsers, and extraordinary rich video games(Dwarf Fortress, I am looking at you). So it doesn't make sense to me that congressmen are literal dinos…

For last couple of centuries or so, each generation grows up with unprecedented change in their lifetime. I'd argue that this generation's changes aren't just unprecedented, but in an entirely different category. Not just in size, but in speed and extent. The cell phone alone is the most fundamental change in society in human history; suddenly, every person on earth can communicate instantly with almost any other per…

What about soap? (And other cleanliness inventions)

Or the transistor?

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#58

Post by kule » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 10:07 AM UTC

forgottenpaswrd wrote: post #52

mdonahoe wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dont disagree with your thesis, but your example spans a mere twenty years.

My parents saw airplanes take off as a transport form anybody could use, it really changed the world. Before that, it was affordable cars, it changed how people live, work and relax. Before that TV. Before that the discovery of the nuclear bomb, nuclear energy, the world would be never the same. Before that penicillin, filtered water(no diseases in water), radio, telephone, polymers, natural gas pipes, electric light…

My Nan remembers seeing the first car coming into town - she's only in her mid-seventies. When she was growing up it you had a coal shed (heating was just the open fire in the living room), outside larder on the north side of the house (no fridge), outside toilet (at the end of the garden no less).

I find it amazing to think of the amount of changes that have gone on in the last 70-odd years - in just one life time!

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#59

Post by jerfelix » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 10:08 AM UTC

I thought that Stewart made the congresspersons on the Nerds clip look all look like ignorant supporters of SOPA.

The last speaker, Jason Chaffetz, who said "maybe we ought to ask some nerds what this really does" was in opposition to SOPA.

Chaffetz has spoken out against SOPA since at least December 7th. See this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQJrNpAcT84 , where he also uses the term "nerds", but he's saying it in opposition to SOPA. And this clip about keeping the internet open, which dates back to 12/7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t0Pl83_Apo .

So, yeah, Jon Stewart is funny, but he'll use clips to make his point. This sometimes leaves the viewers with an unfairly tainted view of the person in the clip.

Re: Jon Stewart calls out congressional nerd bashing over SOPA

#60

Post by schrijver » Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 10:10 AM UTC

saulrh wrote: post #48

kiba wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For last couple of centuries or so, each generation grows up with unprecedented change in their lifetime. For example, I enter elementary school, the internet started to take off and browsers were primitive. Nowadays, we can enjoy the convenience of movie streaming, fast browsers, and extraordinary rich video games(Dwarf Fortress, I am looking at you). So it doesn't make sense to me that congressmen are literal dinos…

For last couple of centuries or so, each generation grows up with unprecedented change in their lifetime. I'd argue that this generation's changes aren't just unprecedented, but in an entirely different category. Not just in size, but in speed and extent. The cell phone alone is the most fundamental change in society in human history; suddenly, every person on earth can communicate instantly with almost any other per…

or birth control

edt: i meant this to appear underneath the comments with other pretty meaningful inventions that caused huge social change