I prefer it when the commentary on Hacker News does not extend to hot takes. I am sure there are many hypocrisies to be observed on HN, but you are drawing a patently false equivalence between the carbon footprint of cryptocurrency, which if it produces value, certainly does not do so directly, and the impact of the plastic pollution caused by lego pieces, one of the most heavily conserved categories of plastic object in the world.

Say what you will, but any post on HN that even mentions cryptocurrency in passing has an environmental alarmist as the top upvoted post whereas here any such thing will be downvoted to the bottom.

> I prefer it when the commentary on Hacker News does not extend to hot takes.

Seems like you don't speak for the hivemind. Hot takes get upvoted on the regular around here. Just not when they don't conform to the echo chamber.

I found a name for the phenomenon that I was looking for, I think.

I don't think you need to search for a psychological explanation.

I think it is probable that many people think the benefits of Lego far outweigh the benefits of cryptocurrency mining.

Waste?? I still have my legos from my childhood. No plastic wasted here!

That plastic will outlast you, though. When considering environmental impact it's prudent to look beyond a couple hundred years - which I admit we suck at as humans.

and it will be handed to my kids and grandkids, and they will pass it on. most bricks will hopefully not end up in a landfill.