News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile. Parent comment

Re:US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff pr... by b6 on Wednesday February 22, 2017 @01:06AM (#13703416)
It's funny, but I don't think it does much good to think of somebody as dumb. If you or I were actually them, we would be doing the same job. Everyone is getting swept up and used by processes that are too big for them to see.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff pr... by kazinator on Thursday February 23, 2017 @10:54AM (#13714864)
I can't speak for you the way you think you can speak for me, but I wouldn't be one of them.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff pr... by b6 on Sunday February 26, 2017 @05:26AM (#13736571)
Sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound as if I was speaking for you. What I meant was, if you were actually them, you would be doing the same things they are. Maybe this seems tautological, but I think it's an insight that helps one to be compassionate.

If my current mind were to be downloaded somehow into the other guy's body, would I be a border patrol agent? No! But that weird hybrid person never existed and never will. If I had been born as he did, and had the same brain, and gone through the same experiences (in other words, if I were actually him), I would be doing exactly the same things.

This realization that people are doing the best they can (usually very unskillfully) can help us be compassionate toward them.

[ Parent | on HN ]