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Comment by amha | Hacker News Reader

What's frustrating here is the attitude that if you agree with (or work with) someone on some particular topic, then you are necessarily endorsing that person's views on EVERY topic. In other words, you should never associate with someone unless you agree with 100% of their views.

If we brought this attitude into our personal lives, it would make our interactions with family members and colleagues impossible! I disagree with Uncle Bob about X, so therefore it doesn't matter that we have Y in common; I have to condemn him completely. One of my co-workers has a different attitude towards business aspect X than me; therefore, we can't work together on business aspect Y.

Only associating with people whose views are in complete alignment with your own is a good way to become lonely, angry, and ineffective.

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It's one thing to distance yourself from someone because you don't agree with them about supply side economics and another to distance yourself from someone because they demonize certain people and cultures.

There is s guy I consider a friend who couldn't be more opposite than I am. In a lot of ways he is a stereotypical Trump #MAGA guy and I'm definitely on the other end of the spectrum. He's retired ex-military, mid western, and my family is more stereotypical one of the NPR listening "cultural elites".

But, on the issues that would make me separate myself from him - if he were always making racist statements - he's definitely not that. He is White, married to a deaf Vietnamese lady who he loves dearly. Attends a predominately Black church and would give anyone the shirt off of his back.

Only associating with people whose views are in complete alignment with your own is a good way to become lonely, angry, and ineffective.

Ironically, it’s exactly what the current White House does.

edit: I’ve been rate limited (I have no idea why!), but I was going to reply that I didn’t think this was a good thing.

Ok, so when do we stop with the, "well they do it" arguments and step up? At some point, someone needs to act like an adult in politics.

I think the recent Volkswagen Emissions scandal have illustrated how, in the extreme case, it's actually pretty damn important to be in tune with the so called big picture of whatever institution or entity you're operating under.

It depends. Does does he do more good by being there, to keep the doors open and to support some NASA programs? Or does he do more harm by allowing the ultra-conservatives to say, "hey, the science guy supports us?"

Agreed. The letter suggests the authors have a tenuous grip at best on logic. Perhaps their scientific endeavours are circumspect as well? (See what I did there, authors?)

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