Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

How do you interpret what parent said as an excuse for anyone?





A few examples of sympathy for the dictator:

---

I understand why Kim Jong Il thought it was a Masterpiece.

I suspect Kim Jong Il saw the monster as a metaphor for capitalism or globalization, the woman as a metaphor for a revolutionary leader (maybe Kim himself)

It's seems like the flip side of the fact that a small number of people do get to make those impactful decisions on a large scale.

he decided to politically 'sacrifice himself' for his people by betraying that globalist monster which had helped him.

---

Works of art do not exist in a vacuum, and nor do commentaries on them - this one was clearly sympathetic to this monstrous family.


To attempt to empathise with someone is not to excuse their behaviour. Why would you imply that it is? Surely you don't think that every person whose behavior we condemn must be dehumanized?

I disagree with the tone of these comments, they are treating him with a sympathy I don't think he deserves.

IMO, people tend to overestimate how monstrous some people are. I think they're probably not that much more evil than the rest of us. It might seem shocking but my experience tells me that the most objective perspective is often in-between extremes and that the enemies of your government are rarely as bad as you are led to believe. A lot of it is really just propaganda; though it rarely feels like propaganda when it comes from your own government because all the words and motifs used to propagandize you feel very familiar to you; they are embedded into your culture since you were born.

Also, I think the other side always looks more evil than they are because we turn a blind eye to the punches thrown by our side. We only notice violence and injustice when it comes from the other side. Everything the other side does looks like offense, never defense, not to any extent. This is almost never reality.


My guy, you’re talking about a country with work and torture camps as if it’s “not as bad as it seems”.

A country that has had countless other countries and independent organizations confirm throughout history what we know about it. This isn’t a propaganda discussion.

I appreciated your critique of the film but you probably could’ve just stopped talking there.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2025 batch! Applications are open till May 13

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

Search: