Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> I could never endorse violent rhetoric in politics

In literally the next sentence:

> the level of avoidable human misery caused by the dysfunction of politics [...] sickening [...] utterly enraged [...] there's a piece of your soul missing

So you'll deploy extreme emotional hyperbole, but not "violent rhetoric"? Seems like those are two rather nearby points on the same spectrum, no? Tan just slipped a bit off the edge. If you're going to deny someone's soul, it's not that big a leap to wish them dead.



> Seems like those are two rather nearby points on the same spectrum, no?

I don't think so, no. Those two things are miles apart.


Only according to external rules about what you're supposed to say. The emotional content of the rhetoric seems pretty identical. No one thinks Garry Tan was actually wishing death on anyone, he was expressing anger and doing that by invalidating the target's existence. "You should die" and "you have a piece of your soul missing" are coming from the same place, they both mean "you're worthless".

It's just that Tan forgot the rules in the heat of the moment. And so would the grandparent poster after a few drinks, I suspect.

To wit: cool the fuck down, everyone. Shitposting on the internet is a slippery slope to an accidental death threat.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: