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> The underlying expectation here seems to be that HN readers shouldn't have to work a little That's not my point at all: I work in software, so I love to star
by falsedan 9y ago
> The underlying expectation here seems to be that HN readers shouldn't have to work a little
That's not my point at all: I work in software, so I love to stare at some cryptic message and mutter and make notes. But when I uncover the answer is "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine", then I'll feel ripped off.
I keep seeing product announcements using this technique of dressing it up in twisty little language, as if they're afraid that what they're saying isn't interesting enough to stand on its own. They slap on the appearance of entertainment, without considering how well it fits with their message (prioritising form over function).
why's (poignant) Guide to Ruby is a fantastic example of how to do it right: the whimsy doesn't detract from the message, but helps frame it and gives the right context for the reader to build the mental model of programming that _why intended to convey.
- dang 9y agoOk, I get your point now. But did I miss it or did you really not say this earlier? We probably assigned this post to different buckets but I agree with you that both buckets exist.
- falsedan 9y agoI said: > if I have to spend 5 minutes to work out if this is […] an untargeted waste of marketing budget, then I'm going to [write a comment about how I wish people would stop doing it]* I'll try being clear next time.