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'Man of the Hole': Last of his tribe dies in Brazil

48 points| cmsefton | 3 years ago |bbc.co.uk

14 comments

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[+] markx2|3 years ago|reply
I have not read anything about this man other than this article, but I am content that he died without being subject to whatever procedures / processes / observations that would have been made had he been more closely scrutinised.

No doubt someone would have said that 'we' could learn from him, but in doing so 'we' would have hurt this man in some way - be that mental or physical.

Odd - being downvoted for what I see as having some compassion for this man. Maybe I'm missing something. If so, please explain so I can learn.

[+] Beltalowda|3 years ago|reply
The problem is that there is no way to know what this fella would have liked. His existence seems lonely and generally miserable, maybe he would have preferred to be contacted? Or maybe not and he was content living on his own? Right now there is no way to know. I don't think that asking people "hey, what would you like?" is "hurting" them; quite the opposite actually.

Furthermore, many – though obviously not all – people are generally quite happy to share aspects of their culture and languages, especially when they know it will die out.

Of course, actually communicating with this man has some practical barriers in terms of language but also trust considering his tribe was murdered, but I don't think it would have hurt to try and ask, as long as you don't force anything.

[+] silicon2401|3 years ago|reply
> Odd - being downvoted for what I see as having some compassion for this man. Maybe I'm missing something. If so, please explain so I can learn.

Many people make judgments relative to a group rather than an individual. Such people wouldn't see your stance as positive because you're allowing for a loss to the group. Any cost to that individual that brings a benefit to the group would be acceptable in this worldview.

[+] ollifi|3 years ago|reply
It’s strange to think he lived such solitary life and yet millions will read about his death.
[+] Qem|3 years ago|reply
Not that strange, taking into account his solitary life was not voluntary. He was the last remnant of a people that got extinguished in modern-day ethnical cleansing.
[+] gruturo|3 years ago|reply
Oh I had just read about him a few days ago while browsing Quora, the article was an answer to something like "Who's the loneliest person in the world". He certainly qualified :/
[+] protoman3000|3 years ago|reply
If it’s unknown to us how the usual funeral or burial procedure in his culture was, what would be the most respectful and appropriate way to do with his dead body?
[+] jollyllama|3 years ago|reply
I saw another piece in which he dug holes in which he slept inside the homes. He probably used those holes for staying cooler (or perhaps warmer).