Ask HN: Should we start primarily reporting Heat Index instead of other stuff?

askIoT · on Aug 25, 2023

I sometimes think that everything we discuss here is so much smaller when compared to global warming. But I am a believer in human ingenuity and think there will be a solution before things get too dire.

paulcole · on Aug 25, 2023

> there will be a solution before things get too dire

There is. It’s called money. If you have enough of it, things will not get dire for you in your lifetime. And enough of it will keep your kids’ kids from feeling the effects too seriously.

Money is both the solution and the problem. Until the people who can insulate themselves from climate change through wealth. are willing to significantly reduce their current quality of life, there’s no chance to avoid dire-ness for those without money.

And honestly in terms of direness for many, the money has been spent and now it’s just about waiting for the bill to come due.

readonthegoapp · on Aug 25, 2023

i think the rich will be insulated to a certain extent, but the weather is already making most of the world, including much of the rich, miserable.

i mean, the solution to rich kids is going to be like... don't go outside for the next three months.

if you're a rich adult, you can fly north for the summer, but you'll have to go to.... somewhere where it's not blazing hot in the summer? where is that?

and then you'll be breathing heavy wildfire smoke?

paulcole · on Aug 25, 2023

I guess we have different definitions of dire.

A rich person having to stay indoors more than they like is totally different than a person in Iran or India being cooked alive by 120-150F heat indexes.

I live in the US in a wildfire-affected area, but it’s only incredibly unpleasant for me, not dire.

logicalmonster · on Aug 25, 2023

> With more people suffering and dying from direct heat-related global warming conditions,

I hate to be that guy, but maybe you should recheck some of your premises here because you're stating something that's really specific that might not be objectively factual.

This is a pretty complicated topic, but here's a starting point for investigation.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2020/08/27...

> I feel like we need a simpler way to talk about whether or not it is safe for people to go outside, for how long, etc., and I feel like the current reporting regime does not accomplish that.

How is knowing a few basic weather statistics like the temperature, wind speed, precipitation, and a few others like that too confusing? I know how to look out of the window, look at the weather report, and dress myself like a big boy.

This feels more like an attempt to make idealogical propaganda than a genuine attempt to inform people.