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As a general rule, you don't criticize people who've just died. That's just common courtesy.


It seems like you misunderstood or are misrepresenting what I wrote.

While we have these kinds of submissions pretty regularly on HN, this is the first time in multiple years I've seen a reminder about this under almost every single negative comment and every comment containing critique. The reminder about the rule was even expanded to the whole concept of royalty.

My point is not that speaking ill of the dead should be encouraged, my point is the selective enforcement of that sentiment with only a special, priviliged group benefitting from it.

Edit after consideration: Whether criticizing the dead or not criticizing the dead should follow a general rule, I can't and won't comment on.


I agree with you.

I just think there is too much hype in the whole Royal Family than what it’s worth for.

(Sorry if this offends some Brits but being from one of the colonized countries I strongly feel this is not worth it)


Hype is maybe the wrong word?

There is genuinely a lot for love for the Royals from a lot of people in the UK so there is a ton of media coverage of them, especially in some of the low end newspapers such as the Daily Express.

Further afield, the Royal family is aggressively marketed by those who stand to benefit from increased tourism.


As a Brit, I agree wholeheartedly.


It's not particularly well-observed. For instance:

- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20661919

- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2504770

But it is to be expected. There are the good guys in the Western sphere of influence and the bad guys. And this is a Western site. It cannot be expected to do much but reflect what is this site's audience. The Elephant and The Rider, after all.

Besides, she's just a figurehead, and makes no real decisions. So it's a bit strange to lay the blame at her feet for the Mao-style starving of her subjects (as they would have been considered by her at the time) or the many wars.


> So it's a bit strange to lay the blame at her feet for the Mao-style starving of her subjects (as they would have been considered by her at the time) or the many wars.

Not really. She's been the living figurehead and embodiment of "Britain" for nearly a century, and for colonized peoples that by definition includes the generational trauma and suffering from the British empire. You don't get to be Queen and wear a crown with the Kohinoor on it and just separate yourself from that history.


Well put.

And as a 'general rule', of course there are exceptions.

polishing by bells for the Putin death announcement celebration


Including Hitler? Mao? Genghis Khan? War criminals?


Yep. The “Genghis Khan has died” post was a total shitshow.




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