Ask HN: What have you changed your mind about?
On the internet, everyone seems so sure of their views. What did you change your mind about recently?
Now I feel the reverse. I don’t want to know Firebase’s stance on BLM. They don’t need a banner for that. I just want to use their system to do useful work.
I want to get my politics and social justice on my own schedule, and let service providers provide politically neutral services.
I'll admit that, when the first reports were surfacing in the media early last year, I dismissed them as just more of the hyperbole and 'clickbaityness' that, unfortunately, passes for much of the news, these days.
As it transpired, for once the press weren't 'crying wolf' and the ensuing global pandemic was about to become the biggest news story of this, or many other years.
So, I got that one wrong. Big style.
Much of the US social safety net (what of it exists) happens through local public schools. The long term health consequences of having schools closed, in some cases up to a year, will be staggering.
Most western countries have reopened their schools. Germany weeks after the initial lockdown. UK largely this year.
Already in my town we are seeing a spike in crime. It seems in part attributable to marginal families with not hope or outlet having little access to education, opportunities, or needed services. I really worry about the long term consequences. Not to mention if you are in an abusive home environment with no hope for escape. The ACEs study has firmly established the long term health impact of childhood trauma.
I previously was unaware or not conscious of how bad this could be until recently, and had a fairly lax attitude towards schools reopening. I now feel more strongly about reopening in some fashion.