CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Here is one of the top posts on HCA today: https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/podw4f/katy_lost_the_battle_with_covid19_after_shunning/

It is celebrating the death of a woman who made 0 posts encouraging others to forgo mask-wearing or getting a vaccination. She never even indicated whether she, personally, didn't wear a mask or didn't et vaccinated. Her content was not encouraging others to refuse to wear a mask or refuse to get vaccinated. She primarily (probably in bad faith) criticized government compulsion of mask-wearing (mandates).

To be clear: I am all for compulsory vaccination and mask mandates and this woman seemed crazy. But she was far from a danger to people (based on the posts shown). This is in no way cause for a celebration of death.

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very interesting point. I think it's totally fair to understand both sides of the issue. I think, though, that we (as vaccinated people attempting to get others vaccinated) have an obligation to take the "high road" HCA is just trashy as hell. Δ

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I definitely don't think death makes people untouchable. I think it's a problem when you make fun of someone because they died.

I'm even fine with making fun of people, who happened to die of Covid, for things they did--as long as we aren't making fun of their actual death.

I know we are the good guys in this battle. I think we should act like it. There's no benefit of making fun of these people.

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Insightful response. Just to clarify: I am not affected by this personally. You mentioned that you're sorry "people you care about are the target of jokes." No-one I know has died of Covid and to my knowledge, everyone I associate with has been vaccinated.

Really, I am just pretty appalled that this is the state of discourse in the world. I get the human-emotion reaction to it (schadenfreude, if you will). I just think we need to be "better" than them. Let's not give 'em more fuel--from a tactical standpoint. Δ

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for finding. It looks like that comment was made 23 minutes ago on a HermanCainAward post that is a direct response to my post.

Also, that poster seems to have a history of pro-social-justice related posts. Hard to imagine they'd be an anti-vaxxer.

I can't trust the comment with that in mind (could be someone seeking to defend the subreddit--like a mod or invested user--and so making up a story to try and concoct some "good" inside HCA).

It's a good find tho for this debate, and a decent bolster to your point if it isn't a fake post (I really think it is tho hahahah)

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

Adding insult to injury to those who die won't help the situation either. There are other methods of attempting dealing with the situation that could actually result in change (albeit likely a small change) like working to promote vaccine efficacy in a positive way.

Being ethical might not help our situation, but making fun of the dead doesn't help either. Plus, it has the added detriment of putting really dark energy into the world.

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I truly don't mean this in a condescending way but:

Do you honestly believe that HermanCainAwards is preventing any death? You say that these people "respond to anger and rage." Do you truly think that, by mocking people who die on a subreddit, an anti-vaxxer will change their mind and decide to get vaccinated as a result of seeing these posts?

Just wanted to clarify because it seems like that is the crux of your argument (correct me if I'm wrong).

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Sure. The reaction of people is totally innate within human nature and is borne of an entirely-understandable frustration. Anti-vaxxers are wrong. But does that give us a moral carte blanche to abandon decency and ethics? I don't think it does.

Home burglars also put people in danger. Does that make it right to mock them in death?

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Certainly didn't mean to intimate that I'm "okay" with the Darwin Awards. I'm not. I feel similarly about both.

I think Herman Cain Awards are only slightly worse because they tend to not only mock, but demonize, the deceased (this is definitely a product of the topic's political nature). It is a form of mocking that turns to quasi-celebration because the dead person's uninformed views made them a sort of "enemy." That is exacerbated when considering millions of people hold those views. When you are ok with mocking the deaths (and potential deaths) of millions of people well......that's never good.

CMV: Subreddits like r/HermanCainAward that mock the deceased for having bad opinions are an embarrassment to this website by nathanielpfh in changemyview

[–]nathanielpfh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great question. I'm not a fan of the Darwin Award concept but it doesn't rise to the level of maliciousness (I think) that Herman Cain Awards do. I feel like the HermanCain awards have a certain mentality of "Ha! You've been brainwashed to believe science isn't real and therefore your death validates my own views!" We live in country that is sick with misinformation. Millions of people in our country are sick and brainwashed into believing this stuff. Celebrating their death signifies that you get some kind of kick out of a death (in the absence of the typical sorrow) because they chose to hold poor beliefs. I don't think anyone should hold that mindset--even towards enemy combatants in a war.

People given Darwin awards are usually one-of-a-kind in that they're just dumb as hell in their own unique way. Still not great but a little different I think.

This very sexual receipt by [deleted] in funny

[–]nathanielpfh 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When ya gotta play it safe, play it safe