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You could look at it another way and derive an opposite conclusion. A lot of people have a feeling that what they do on Hacker News "matters" in that other peop
by SlyShy 17y ago
You could look at it another way and derive an opposite conclusion. A lot of people have a feeling that what they do on Hacker News "matters" in that other people are watching their behavior, and might choose to hire them or co-found with them on the basis of their participation. So a self-interested individual would check their behavior here, instead of indulging.
- brandnewlow 17y agoHacker News "works" because it's all a big job interview. The job in question is being someone PG thinks is cool. That's the glue that holds this community together and keeps people in line.
- plinkplonk 17y ago"Hacker News "works" because it's all a big job interview. The job in question is being someone PG thinks is cool. " I have to confess I find this a very strange way of thinking. I respect PG immensely, but I don't care if he thinks I am not "cool" and I am fairly sure he doesn't anyway. And that's perfectly fine -- I don't think I am cool why should he? Do you really believe that most people here are trying to get PG's stamp of approval somehow? I suspect not.
- dfranke 17y agoWhat brandnewlow describes was definitely and obviously true in the very-early days of HN (then Startup News), like from its public opening in Feb '07 until the next couple funding cycle deadlines. At that time the readership consisted very heavily of YC-hopefuls, and the site was low-volume enough that any given comment had a very good chance of being read by PG. But HN has grown a lot since then, I get much less impression that this dynamic still holds.
- SlyShy 17y agoI don't think it has to do with PG anymore specifically. But rather, if you were to mention HN in a cover letter as the way you heard about a job opportunity, then your Hacker News profile would likely be checked out. I've had it happen 2 out of 2 times so far.
- brandnewlow 17y agoIf PG/YC cut ties with HN, the site and community would die.
- jeromec 17y agoI agree, but not because every participant wants in to YC. PG is the guiding anchor for the site. It's similar to how people speculate Digg would be different without Kevin Rose. These site creators are hosts. It's like going to someone's house; while you may be allowed to wander around your behavior will generally reflect the values of the host. The quality of HN is a flattering testament to the high bar set by having PG as host, as well as deliberate measures implemented to defend against degradation.
- tptacek 17y agoIf Joel Spolsky cut ties with Business of Software, it too might die. But most of the people who contribute there don't want to work for Fog Creek.
- brandnewlow 17y agoPoint taken.
- karzeem 17y agoImpressing (or at least not disappointing) PG was definitely a big incentive early on, and it lingers to a degree. I think, though, that PG's role in that has been replaced by the community at large. People are civil and thoughtful because they want to live up to the community. (Incidentally, I think in communities where people are jerks, it's also because they think that's what the community expects.)
- tptacek 17y agoPart of what makes Hacker News work is that it's a benign dictatorship. Sites that have curators work better than sites that don't. So there's some truth to what you're saying. But many of the top posters on this site have no evident desire to work for (or, in my case, even be particularly respectful towards) Paul Graham. So I think you've missed the mark, too.