>When the NYPD started frisking every other black person, where was HN? What about when the right for women to have affordable birth control was being oppressed? But suddenly the government is peeking at your search history and it's "tyranny!"
That's not really fair, right? I mean this is Hacker News, so it makes sense that people are expressing interest in and concern about things related to technology.
>All of these arguments are looking increasingly like conspiracy theories.
I don't get this talk about "conspiracy theories". It's not a theory once it's unveiled and right in your face, is it? Trying to dub people's reactions or sentiment about these topics as conspiracy theories is dismissive and effectively a back-handed ad hominem attack.
It is not a reason-based response to people's legitimate concerns and, worse, it's just plain incorrect. It is not theories that the government is using drones, massive surveillance programs, etc. These are admitted facts.
There are two (maybe three) articles on the front page right now unrelated to technology or "hacking." HN has long been an aggregator of all things interesting to SV, not just tech — and that's my point. You guys are bouncing around in your own little bubble (admittedly a bit faster now) but you're still just in your bubble. Meanwhile, you stay ignorant to the rest of the country and what it actually cares about, which means you will never have any far-reaching effect. People here are literally saying that we're in a dictatorship or a tyranny because the FBI asked for the use of unmanned drones 10 times in the past 10 years.
Obviously I'm not talking about using unmanned drones when I talk about conspiracy theories. I'm talking about Helianthus' entire argument and the arguments I see being perpetuated here. He walks you through it (in true conspiracy-theorist style), asking questions you would never really ask and then answering them as though he makes some big revelation.
They are taking this fact, that the government is flying unmanned blimps around DC as a more cost-efficient way to patrol DC's skies than having manned fighter jets, and using it as proof that the government is spying on civilians with absolutely no evidence. You see these types of folks pop up in news articles like this all the time, because they think they finally have the proof they need to convince the unwashed masses that there's something deeper going on. It just happens that HN is on an anti-government crusade, so they're passing out upvotes like candy to anyone who posts something remotely angry about the NSA.
And, in any case, I was referring to the bad analogies you'd used: No, I don't expect a lot of discussion about women's reproductive rights here. I do expect discussions about search engine privacy.
>You guys are bouncing around in your own little bubble
Who is "you guys"?
>Meanwhile, you stay ignorant to the rest of the country and what it actually cares about
No. I just don't discuss everything here. I'm curious though: what do you think the rest of the country cares about?
>People here are literally saying that we're in a dictatorship or a tyranny because the FBI asked for the use of unmanned drones 10 times in the past 10 years.
No. It's also the NSA surveillance, Patriot Act, Guantanemo, torture, and a ton of other erosions of trust. I am curious to know at what point you think it will be appropriate to have some concern.
>and using it as proof that the government is spying on civilians with absolutely no evidence
But, the evidence is that the FBI admitted to doing just that. You may argue that the number of cases to which they admitted don't bother you, but you can't really argue that there's no evidence that they are doing it, can you?
Listen, if you disagree because you're not concerned, then that's your prerogative. But, please argue your point instead of pretending that these factual things aren't happening and calling everyone who acknowledges them "conspiracy theorists".
Because for me, there need not be anything "deeper" going on to be greatly concerned. The admitted facts are by far enough to make me worry about the future of our nation. And, really, with everything we know, the biggest question in my mind is when do people like you grow concerned?
That's not really fair, right? I mean this is Hacker News, so it makes sense that people are expressing interest in and concern about things related to technology.
>All of these arguments are looking increasingly like conspiracy theories.
I don't get this talk about "conspiracy theories". It's not a theory once it's unveiled and right in your face, is it? Trying to dub people's reactions or sentiment about these topics as conspiracy theories is dismissive and effectively a back-handed ad hominem attack.
It is not a reason-based response to people's legitimate concerns and, worse, it's just plain incorrect. It is not theories that the government is using drones, massive surveillance programs, etc. These are admitted facts.