[solidasparagus]

I don't think that's a very productive comment.

It's true, but it has zero relevance to the fact that people are naturally resistant to being told to make huge sacrifices almost solely for the benefit of another group of people. Particularly at a time when one of the major (pre-coronavirus) world storylines is around the first group of people suffering from the climate decisions made by the older group.

[giggles_giggles]

Every generation inherits a world full of the problems created or only half-solved by the generation before it. It's not unique to our generation and it won't be unique to the next one, unless the young people are the first generation of perfect people capable of living their lives without creating a single new problem for the next generation.

The older generation also solved a lot of problems, and gave us great gifts, as did every generation before them, and as we will for the ones that follow us.

It's not productive to try to pit the young against the old, and the GP is right to point out that you too will be old one day, if you're lucky, so it's certainly unwise to reform the system so that it discriminates against the very group you should hope to join someday (and sooner than you would imagine, sooner than anyone wishes), especially considering the alternative.

[solidasparagus]

I think my point is more that the pandemic + this sort of government response inherently pits the young vs old. The government has enacted a sweeping lockdown (unprecedented loss of freedom AFAIK^) that overwhelming hurts people of working age for the benefits of high-risk older people. But where is the help for those that now can't pay their rent or buy enough food? That situation inherently breeds resentment at a time where resentment is already a mainstream topic.

^This matters because it shows that the government is capable of taking dramatic action

[arcticbull]

> The government has enacted a sweeping lockdown (unprecedented loss of freedom AFAIK^) that overwhelming hurts people of working age for the benefits of high-risk older people.

Be sure to tell grandma how much you care, junior.

> But where is the help for those that now can't pay their rent or buy enough food?

Folks in California are eligible for up to $1800/month in unemployment benefits.

> That situation inherently breeds resentment at a time where resentment is already a mainstream topic.

Response to a disaster should breed solidarity.

[JabavuAdams]

Your grandparents fought in a world war, and you ... need to stay at home for a few weeks. Some things are bigger than you, sheesh.

[CarelessExpert]

> people are naturally resistant to being told to make huge sacrifices almost solely for the benefit of another group of people

This has gotta be the most nihilistic thing I've ever read. And I spend time on Reddit.

The ascendance of humanity is due to a) our brains, and b) our aggregating into communities and working for collective benefit. Our entire existence disproves your hyper-libertarian/utilitarian notion.

Then again, clearly some people hold this perverse idea... which explains the random edge lords on Twitter bragging about violating social distancing protocols.

[solidasparagus]

It's not nihilistic at all. It's just human nature proven time and time again over history. Us vs them is a core concept of human society. That's why it's so heartwarming when we see stories of people making major sacrifices for people that aren't part of their family/community.

[antepodius]

If you're always agreeable and self-sacrificing, you'll be taken advantage of by malicious actors. And it's not always easy to figure out whether the other person is actively trying to take advantage of you or not.

[arcticbull]

Nah, that's prisoner's dilema at work.

[antepodius]

And some people chronically defect, hence why tit-for-tat works.