EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Sep 11·5 min read
The Death of Shame Is Tearing Us Apart
TL;DR
The decline of shame in society, particularly in sports, is leading to a culture of shamelessness where teams prioritize losing for better draft picks. This shift raises concerns about the erosion of social norms and community cohesion.
✦ Why It Matters
Consider the ethical implications of your team's strategies and how they align with community values.
Key Takeaways
- Recognize the impact of social media on community norms.
- Evaluate how optimization culture influences decision-making in your field.
- Advocate for ethical practices in your organization.
- Engage in discussions about the importance of shame in maintaining societal values.
Full Summary
Shame traditionally serves as a social mechanism to uphold community norms, but its decline in the age of social media has led to a culture of optimization where winning at all costs is prioritized. In sports, particularly the NBA, tanking—where teams intentionally lose games to improve their draft position—has become more prevalent and accepted.
This practice gained notoriety during the 'Process' era of the Philadelphia 76ers under Sam Hinkie, who openly embraced losing to secure high draft picks. Despite attempts to regulate tanking through changes in the lottery system, the underlying issue remains: teams face little social consequence for their actions.
The article argues that the erosion of shame reflects broader societal changes, where profit-driven motives overshadow community values, necessitating intervention to restore balance. The implications extend beyond sports, suggesting a need for regulation in various sectors to counteract the pervasive optimization mindset.