Hacker News: feb012025

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran Shock Jolts Asia and Europe to Speed Up Energy Transition"

feb012025 — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:40:32 +0000

I think your impression of China is outdated by about a decade

New comment by feb012025 in "New US phone network for Christians to block porn and gender-related content"

feb012025 — Sat, 02 May 2026 18:58:57 +0000

I find myself particularly suspicious of efforts block content on the internet these days

New comment by feb012025 in "Men who stare at walls"

feb012025 — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:39:40 +0000

I don't think that's it. I've never been one to shy away from any difficult emotional experiences I have (maybe I'm wrong though who knows)

I just end up feeling emotionally "flat" after doing it. Which sometimes feels like that's the goal, but I don't like the feeling

New comment by feb012025 in "Men who stare at walls"

feb012025 — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:20:57 +0000

I've never liked the way meditation makes me feel, but I really like doing "guided relaxation". To an extent that I think they have to be different somehow, even though a lot of people would probably say they're the same thing.

I feel like staring at walls is similar.

New comment by feb012025 in "Palantir Wants to Reinstate the Draft"

feb012025 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:42:18 +0000

Bizarre for them to suggest this right after the US unilaterally launched the most unpopular war in modern history. A war with almost no tangible upside for US citizens, and a war many people think was started on the whims of another country.

What are they thinking lol

New comment by feb012025 in "US and Iran agree to provisional ceasefire"

feb012025 — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:49:45 +0000

For the sake of peace... yes ;)

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran threatens 'complete and utter annihilation' of OpenAI's $30B Stargate"

feb012025 — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:37:00 +0000

"The United States sent guns to the Iranian protesters through the Kurds, President Trump told Fox News."

"Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them..." - Mike Pompeo

New comment by feb012025 in "Japanese, French and Omani vessels cross Strait of Hormuz"

feb012025 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:36:35 +0000

Look at where Germany is now?

They're a total non-player on the world stage. They completely kowtow to the US. Hardly a good example

New comment by feb012025 in "Japanese, French and Omani vessels cross Strait of Hormuz"

feb012025 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:32:41 +0000

I can assure you that no "center left" president will be fixing any problems in the middle east anytime soon

New comment by feb012025 in "F-15E jet shot down over Iran"

feb012025 — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:25:13 +0000

It's the special interest groups. Specifically Israel's lobbying efforts. No need to try to obfuscate it at this point.

New comment by feb012025 in "F-15E jet shot down over Iran"

feb012025 — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:39:54 +0000

I think you're mistaken about who congress is beholden to at this particular point in time...

The war has record low approval ratings, even among Trump's base.

New comment by feb012025 in "U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out"

feb012025 — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:10:42 +0000

The attack is for Israel... enough already

New comment by feb012025 in "Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Bidding, Paramount Set to Win"

feb012025 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 02:56:15 +0000

Based on how the takeover of CBS has been going, it really does seem like waning support for Israel is the major motivation behind this huge consolidation. Pretty unbelievable to watch

In a matter of months: Paramount, CBS, TikTok, CNN, FreePress...

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran Protest Death Toll Could Top 30k, According to Local Health Officials"

feb012025 — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:59:58 +0000

Pretty easy actually. The only leverage we have over Iran is military action, which I think historical precedent shows will lead to worse outcomes for everyone involved.

The way I see it, any support for Iranians will be co-opted to start a war with Iran, which will be a disaster.

This isn't the case for Israel / Gaza, which is what I assume you're alluding to when you talk about activism.

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran is likely jamming Starlink"

feb012025 — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:30:47 +0000

To be fair, I'll admit there's somewhat of a double standard when it comes to silence in regard to US support for Saudi Arabia vs Israel. But realistically, for me, I don't think the answer is to offer full-throated support to Israel and to be quiet about issues Americans have with it. Especially if it risks spiraling into a broader conflict.

I do think there are particular aspects about US support for Israel, outside of humanitarian concerns, that lead to people being more critical about US involvement in the conflict.

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran is likely jamming Starlink"

feb012025 — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:01:11 +0000

I think the impression most people have is that the United States is no longer dependent on Saudi oil. The main reason we're their most pivotal ally is to encourage normalization with Israel, and to make sure they help counter Iran. So kind of the same root cause.

Beyond that, the Houthi / Saudi conflict is a lot less asymmetric, which I think plays a factor in people's response to it. The Houthis have more territorial control, weapons, agency. It's closer to a state-state war. Gaza is quite literally boxed in--air, sea and land.

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran is likely jamming Starlink"

feb012025 — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:58:18 +0000

In none of those conflicts you mentioned does the US act as the main benefactor to the side causing excessive suffering. And in none of those conflicts do they lobby aggressively for the support of US politicians.

Considering that reality, does it not make sense that Americans would be more vocal when it comes to this conflict, because we actually have agency to affect it?

I genuinely want to know what your response is to that argument, because it's not a new one, and seems very obvious to me.

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran is likely jamming Starlink"

feb012025 — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:44:23 +0000

The problem is, I really do believe any kind of mass support for the Iranian protesters will in fact be co-opted to start a war with Iran--at least at this particular moment in time.

And the executed protesters are a bad thing. But I don't think military intervention will lead to a better outcome.

Supporters of Palestine had pretty specific requests, none of which apply to Iran (conditioning weapons sales, divestment, etc...)

New comment by feb012025 in "Iran is likely jamming Starlink"

feb012025 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 23:04:15 +0000

I would say it's really about opposition to death and suffering.

The activists want the excessive death and suffering to end in Palestine, and they want to avoid death and suffering in Iran.

Many politicians want to use the protests as a pretext for military intervention in Iran, and my blunt opinion is that they don't actually have the interests of Iranians in mind. There are many reasons to believe it will end up worse for both America and the Iranians than our interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A valid response would be to say that you think abuses in Iran are bad enough that a military intervention is justified and that it will lead to a better outcome for Iranians. My intuition would be to disagree with that, based on the results of past interventions, etc...

New comment by feb012025 in "After ruining a treasured water resource, Iran is drying up"

feb012025 — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:32:52 +0000

Nobody would be alive if it the "water ran out" in that case...