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Humour is fine in principle, but good comments should attempt to further the discourse - e.g. expanding explanations, adding related information, explaining opp
by parenthephobia 10y ago
Humour is fine in principle, but good comments should attempt to further the discourse - e.g. expanding explanations, adding related information, explaining opposing viewpoints, making constructive criticism, fact-checking, or asking questions.
For example, it's very unclear to me what your original comment has to do with trying to prove the Riemann hypothesis. Assuming there is a link, adding an explanation might have improved its reception.
- socmag 10y agoWell, for the, ahem, people who can't see the humor... Trying to prove the Reimann Hypothesis is like trying to talk to God. Now, it may be possible, but for those who have tried similar tasks - for instance, "Fermat's Last Theorem", often it has resulted in madness before success. So, if you can see inside the joke, it is actually an allegory: "A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one." The intention is to perhaps provide the following sentiment, "The very best of luck, but it might bite you in the ass" As for whether humor is allowed, well I'm sorry but just as I believe that LGBT is acceptable, so is someone with who can make a few people laugh.
- chriswarbo 10y ago> Trying to prove the Reimann Hypothesis is like trying to talk to God. Only one of these things is rigorously defined. Since rigour is pretty central to mathematical proof, I'd say these are not alike at all.
- socmag 10y agoWhich one is that?
- socmag 10y agoSorry, yes that was this thing called "humor" again. /slapshand
- cjslep 10y agoIs this another attempt at contributing to the discussion by being "humorous"? Trying to be funny while attempting to explain the joke, and failing at both, should be sending a clear signal. We get it. Math has driven people nuts in the past. And others in that time period successfully joked solving those hard problems must be as easy as talking to the divine.
- socmag 10y agoWell CJSlep, your position is noted. Thank you for your excellent contribution to an otherwise humorous post that you felt didn't meet your personal bar. Meanwhile on Hacker News and even in this post people basically say "Shut the f*k up" all the time and the crowd goes wild. Violence is acceptable, humor is not. Apparently the universe has a sense of irony.
- self-diversity 10y agoNormally I wouldn't join a conversation this far gone, but I'm curious - are you defining words that you consider to be basically the same as "shut the fuck up" to be violence?
- socmag 10y agoNormally you don't join a conversation this far gone, but you are making an exception this time because you want to join in the beat up a user who made a joke and let's make him pay for it thread? Hi come on in! :) <-- Not violence
- socmag 10y agoUnfortunately the time for humor came and went with my first post, which was pretty tame. I apologize if good natured humor was not appreciated and then I'm finally told to "go see a shrink". Wow!
- socmag 10y agoSo go on with this "Humor is fine in principle meme". I've dropped 20 points from one comment that honestly was quite inoffensive compared to other comments that are simply derisive. Please explain to me how humor is bad, and you as a moderator are defending a toxic culture that favors violent comments over comedic ones. Taking notes .
- dang 10y agoWould you please (a) read https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7609289 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7609289, and (b) stop? Lots of us go on tilt sometimes. It happens. But we need you to stop now.
- socmag 10y agoI've stopped now, but it may be worth pausing to reflect on the toxicity and the little social experiment this became in human nature. Have a good day.