Apathy vs Action Debate
The cluster centers on debates about apathy toward societal problems, criticizing online complaining on Hacker News as ineffective and urging concrete actions like organizing or contacting representatives instead of defeatist attitudes or mere discussion.
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I'm not saying you shouldn't be allowed to, I'm saying that even if it was permitted, it wouldn't be productive.I mean, this is Hacker News. We discuss all day about what should or shouldn't be done. If you want action, go out and do it. Otherwise, we're just armchairing all of this.
How about another response: Do something about it. You're not a spectator; it's in your hands.
It's not that nobody cares, it's that nobody can do anything about it.
That's a defeatist attitude. If you care about changing something, you must discuss it and take action against it.
Just because its happening doesnt mean we should passively contribute.
I don't get why this post was downvoted. This is the exact attitude that almost all people effectively have. It is important to bring up this point and demonstrate it. They'll go as far as signing a petition, but the effort/reward ratio isn't there for your average person to do anything about it. Unless it pays off for each person to get involved, no one will get involved.
Whether or not that is true, that is some of the worst sentiment to be spreading. If you feel strongly, call you congressman, organize a group, do something. Posting that no one can do anything doesn't help anyone.
But isn't that the issue? The people you see as having more power than you still don't have the power to accomplish what you want done more than they already are. You being disappointed in me and other people on HN is exactly as ineffective as you see OP's rant as being. Not to be mean about it, but aren't you doing the exact same thing you're accusing the OP of doing? Yelling at other people about ideal theories that you yourself can't make progress on? Is it possi
You shouldn't be downvoted. There is so much apathy with regards to "bad news" like this. So many people feel this way: "if I can't meaningfully participate in improving this societal ill, I would prefer to ignore it."It is totally legit to ask how you can help beyond just feeling outraged. Answers to that question should exist and get talked about more.
Individual action won't change anything, stop making your life worse for no reason or benefit.