[geekdesigngirl]

This is my second post on HN and I, for one, think this is disgusting. How is this right? Most of the comments on this thread are defending this app and yes, it does what it sets out to accomplish. However, are we so much in an echo chamber that we don't realize how the things we build affect other humans?! We deal in a world of systems, where point A leads to point B. But the systems we put in place are interpreted by human minds and human emotions, all of which don't have a point A or point B. I have a friend whose family doesn't go back more than 2 generations because they were all murdered by Hitler's regime at Auschwitz.

It's easy to make stupid apps (your word) but, in a post earlier today about creating apps for the greater good (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1770435), this is just blatantly adding bad. I mean, come on, do something worthwhile with your talents.

What's the point of this app? Is it just to get a rise out of people? I put in Dalai Lama and there's a separation of 3. I expected more from this community.

[araneae]

Over-react much?

Also, what is the point of this statement: "I put in Dalai Lama and there's a separation of 3." Are you complaining that it's a short connection? I mean, obviously, this is simply demonstrating the small world effect, which is a pretty amoral concept as far as concepts go.

[geekdesigngirl]

I suppose I did over-react. My apologies. Perhaps I am in the wrong since I seem to be the only voice that opposes this application. Before coming to the web development world, I was a counselor for troubled youth and adults with mental disabilities (2 separate jobs); our words were important in those positions and I think I'm carrying that over into this current space.

And, I wasn't complaining about the short connection. Everything's inter-related. But I feel that instead of using Hitler as the constant, some other object/person might have been more considerate; I still believe in the power of words. We have those little 'karma' points next to our usernames on this list, don't we? Is the karma just meant to indicate that what we say jives with the collective whole? Like I said, that was my second post; I may have misunderstood what the community 'rules' are.

[araneae]

Well, if it hadn't been for this app, I would have never learned about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhard_Kretschmar whose name was only released in 2007.

I wouldn't have known his name, or that he died at 6 months. Or that his own parents directly petitioned to Hitler to have him killed and called him "The Monster."

Or that merely 3 weeks after his death, when Hitler realized no one would stop him, he started systematically compiling lists of children with severe disabilities to euthanize.

And that it was this systematic killing of children that led to the systematic killing of disabled adults, and then the systematic killing of entire ethnic groups.

(Insect diuretic hormones -> Evolution -> Action T4 -> Adolf Hitler, and then I read Action T4 and went to Gerhard Kretschmar)

[geekdesigngirl]

Wonderful! I stand corrected then. This app is proving to be useful and educational.

[points]

You should watch "The Producers".

The best way to sterilize some figure like Hitler, is to make fun of them and create comedy from them.

Words don't mean much, nor does karma.

[rwhitman]

You didn't overreact. Apparently there are a lot more people on this board who are insensitive to what Hitler represents than I would have given it credit for. Very disappointing

[patrickgzill]

Yes, I expected at least a separation of 5 for the Dalai Lama / Hitler pairing; just goes to show you everyone is tainted in this world....