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for whoever downvoted 'pjc50: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nine_Billion_Names_of_God https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nine_Billion_Names_of_God

umanwizard 9y ago
Just because something was a valid reference doesn't mean it shouldn't be downvoted. I fail to see how it's relevant to the article.
- AceJohnny2 9y ago
  The article's author's point was the feasibility and reasonableness of testing 4 Billion entities (full 32-bit range). The linked sci-fi story is about testing 9 Billion entities (names of god in a given alphabet). The relevancy is that a sci-fi author thought about applying this method over 60 years ago, and at the time it seemed like an insurmountable task for humans that could be solved with massive computers. With the unexpected consequence of ending the universe. And now anyone can do this on their desktop.
- planteen 9y ago
  Often humorous and witty comments are my favorite parts of HN. They are far better than posts on a topic where people seem not to have read the article.
  - dasil003 9y ago
    Sure, most people enjoy humor or wit, but most people aren't as funny as they think, and I think even you'd agree the luster tends to wear off once the top thread on every post is a chain of memes, in-jokes, and stupid puns nested too deep to fit comfortably on any screen. That is the natural entropic end-state of all large social news sites. HN has anti-bodies against that by downvoting a bit more aggressively than might seem warranted at first glance, but all in all I think it's a wise choice.
  - lightedman 9y ago
    "Often humorous and witty comments are my favorite parts of HN" Then you'll find far better on Slashdot where free speech seems to actually happen, as opposed to here where you're not allowed to joke about anything.
1_800_UNICORN 9y ago
That was an excellent read. Kind of a reverse of the short story "Nightfall" by Isaac Asimov.

umanwizard 9y ago

Just because something was a valid reference doesn't mean it shouldn't be downvoted. I fail to see how it's relevant to the article.

AceJohnny2 9y ago
The article's author's point was the feasibility and reasonableness of testing 4 Billion entities (full 32-bit range). The linked sci-fi story is about testing 9 Billion entities (names of god in a given alphabet). The relevancy is that a sci-fi author thought about applying this method over 60 years ago, and at the time it seemed like an insurmountable task for humans that could be solved with massive computers. With the unexpected consequence of ending the universe. And now anyone can do this on their desktop.
planteen 9y ago
Often humorous and witty comments are my favorite parts of HN. They are far better than posts on a topic where people seem not to have read the article.
- dasil003 9y ago
  Sure, most people enjoy humor or wit, but most people aren't as funny as they think, and I think even you'd agree the luster tends to wear off once the top thread on every post is a chain of memes, in-jokes, and stupid puns nested too deep to fit comfortably on any screen. That is the natural entropic end-state of all large social news sites. HN has anti-bodies against that by downvoting a bit more aggressively than might seem warranted at first glance, but all in all I think it's a wise choice.
- lightedman 9y ago
  "Often humorous and witty comments are my favorite parts of HN" Then you'll find far better on Slashdot where free speech seems to actually happen, as opposed to here where you're not allowed to joke about anything.

1_800_UNICORN 9y ago

That was an excellent read. Kind of a reverse of the short story "Nightfall" by Isaac Asimov.