Thread

1. roenxi · 1790756315 · focus · HN ↗

   > Every generation believes it is living through the end of something.

   Many generations are. Last century saw the collapse of the British and Soviet empires - titans by any measure - through mismanagement. Europe as an international power was also broken (compared to how they used to be). I can easily imagine 1900s me fleeing to America in fear of the end times and feeling quite justified in his choices with hindsight. Less obvious where to run to these days as the US not-an-empire looks like it may crumble.

   Most of the people who died didn't get an opportunity to complain, so we live with some serious survivorship bias on how bad things got.

   1. zdc1 · 1790759011 · focus · HN ↗

      While there's no magic land of opportunity to flee to, there are still many safe and stable places where one can raise a family and lead a simple life. Especially if you remove the abstraction of countries and look at cities and towns instead. It does depends on what you want and what you're willing to give however, as moving may mean learning a new language and assimilating a new culture. And then there's differences in wealth and earning potential as well, so I guess leaving the USA is more 'bugging out' than 'economic migration'.

      OTOH, mobility is a privilege, and it's usually the least privileged who are the most affected by war. So I'm not exactly sure how I feel about my own advice, since it's most useful to those that need it least.

      1. brnt · 1790760248 · focus · HN ↗

         > mobility is a privilege

         We made it a priviledge, but for a biological being, it's the most natural thing to do when you find yourself in a place that is shitty. There is a reason so many risk truly awful things to get a chance (chance!) at a better life: going to where food and safety is, is just what living beings do.

         1. 010ED67913 · 1790772988 · focus · HN ↗

            what is the alternative?

            1. brnt · 1790774078 · focus · HN ↗

               To mobility? There is none. It's a basic human trait. Animal trait. Living in the same place is the abberation.

               1. 010ED67913 · 1790853194 · focus · HN ↗

                  how do you determine if that is good or bad? humans have lots of basic traits and tendencies that have been demonstrated over written history. does the fact humans have always done something mean it is good?

                  1. brnt · 1790936871 · focus · HN ↗

                     Why does it need to be bad or good? It's what separates animals from plants: locomotion. You might as well think breathing air is too pleistocene for you?

                     1. 010ED67913 · 1791196453 · focus · HN ↗

                        because it affects real public policy. so, how do you determine if the use of this mobility is good or bad? because that's what's going to inform one's position on public policy.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.