Comment already starts off pointing flameward, but ok, it could go either way.
> In almost any other country,
A grand and shallow generalization, consistent with flamebait, but ok, still not dispositive.
> The incessant fads and hysteria
This swerve into pejorative language, given the frame already set, is definitely starting to look like nationalistic flamebait.
> a society that is totally dysfunctional
Ok, now there's no question about it.
Comments like this, which combine denunciatory rhetoric with a very low information/indignation ratio, are not what Hacker News is for. This was not a borderline call!
In every single developed country leaving a child like that would cause everyone there to be prosecuted by law. I didnt hear any other country where trying to help a kid to find his mother by asking around people in a park could be considered child molestation and force someone who is helping to leave the child just like that. Feel free to provide a counter argument.
> This swerve into pejorative language
Are you contesting that there are incessant fads and hysteria in the US? We are living in a time when US is waging two wars on two different fronts and creating propaganda hysteria for the third war. American payment processors are being pressured to cut service to those who certain American groups dont see compliant with their views. The list of fads and hysterias are so long that it requires an entire topic to list.
> a society that is totally dysfunctional
> Ok, now there's no question about it.
A society where people work two jobs and yet live in their car where 99% of people will will never buy a house....
...and you are saying that is not a dysfunctional society and pointing out all of these are 'nationalistic'.
> Comments like this, which combine denunciatory rhetoric with a very low information/indignation ratio, are not what Hacker News is for
Tech and tech economy are not exempt from a social collapse. You could make an argument that the collapse has not reached a point at which we should talk about it in every thread, maybe. But you were the one challenged the 'dysfunctional' argument. Delirious hysteria like the one the initial commenter posted is a good sign of collapsing societies. The US is one.
You're continuing to do exactly what I asked you not to. Impassioned cases about how botched other people's countries are simply isn't what this site is for.
If it helps at all, we can assume that you're 100% correct in everything you say. It's still not what this site is for. We want curious conversation here.
That is correct, of course, but "incessant fads and hysteria" and "a society that is totally dysfunctional" are hardly curious expositions of cultural difference.
Sharp-and-shallow putdowns of other countries are nationalistic flamebait. If it doesn't seem that way to you, it might help to imagine the same thing being said about a country (or some other group) that you feel strongly about.
There is nothing nationalistic about it. I have lived in multiple countries, and in no country have I ever ! heard ! about a phenomenon like this one. In every country I lived, leaving that child alone like that would cause you to get legally prosecuted, regardless of who said what - and that prosecution would include that woman who made those threatening remarks. We are reading stories of people who even refrain from patting a child's head because it could be seen as some kind of molestation.
This is one of the hysterias and fads that visibly come out of the US frequently as the US public opinion and even the political landscape change.
yea, only wishing death on Russians is allowed around here. hey maybe we can all use this forum to organize and launch cyber attacks on them too. fn loser
Nothing of the sort is allowed here, regardless of which group is named.
If you see a post that ought to have been moderated but hasn't been, the likeliest explanation is that we didn't see it. We don't come close to reading or even seeing everything that gets posted—there's far too much. You can help by flagging it or emailing us at hn@ycombinator.com.
To be clear, “hurt” in this case meant maybe she scraped her knee or just tripped or wasn’t hurt and just scared from falling. If she was bleeding profusely or screaming in pain I (and I’m sure many other people) would have run over to help immediately.
She was not seriously injured nor in any immediate danger. Most likely she just needed comfort that her caregiver was not providing.
No, this is not just American problem. I live in Europe and being a male I make sure I don't talk to any children or minors (I mean I don't talk first, if someone asks me for the time I can answer quickly and go away even quicker). Any kind of physical contact like helping to stand up is a great taboo.
