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I love HN, but sometimes I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on tech and start-ups. We're missing out on so many great people! It's awesome that we have kno

by ced 16y ago

I love HN, but sometimes I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on tech and start-ups. We're missing out on so many great people! It's awesome that we have knowledgeable comments on web page design and computer security, but where are all the hacker biologists, psychiatrists and gardeners? Presumably, they're turned off by the NoSQL debates and the Techcrunch drama. This site is purportedly about "anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity."[1] Hopefully, we'll move closer to that ideal. Otherwise, we might have to fork HN. [1] http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

frossie 16y ago
where are all the hacker biologists, psychiatrists, or gardeners? Err, we are here. You'd be wrong if you thought that everyone in HN is a startup person, or even a programmer. However, this is hacker news hosted on ycombinator.com. There is a prevailing standard focused on startups and even though I am not one of those people (nor do I wish to be), I do my bit to fit in with the community standard. It's like you are walking in a park and there's a bunch of people having an interesting conversation. You might ask to join in, but saying "why don't you people have an interesting conversation about clock mechanisms instead?" would be kinda rude. Saying "I love HN, but sometimes I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on tech and start-ups" strikes me as saying "I love the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra but I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on classical music". [Later edits in light of comments below:] The interesting question to ask is "why are the non-startup people here". I can only answer for myself: I came here to pick up interesting new sites (in that way I am a refugee from techcrunch - reading it felt too much like a lobotomy ). I stayed because of the quality of the discussion and because even though the startup folks sometimes seem to think they have a unique ecosystem, a lot of their issues are really common to software and even wider technical groups outside the commercial sector, like my own. So no, from that point of view I wouldn't go to an HN fork - I just can't afford another time sink, and I would still need to be on HN for my tech news. As for non-software stories, there are quite a lot of really interesting stories submitted, but they often don't gain enough traction for the home page. But there is a lot of really varied stuff in /new if you look.
- ced 16y ago
  I love the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra but I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on classical music. What's wrong with such a wish? It's not like I'm going to picket in front of YC's offices. Regardless, would you be willing to move to a fork of HN?
- jokermatt999 16y ago
  I agree that Hacker News shouldn't shift its focus. However, I also think the gp post has a good point that it would be nice to see a wider variety of topics (although I'd prefer it to be a separate community). Is there another Hacker News-like site that has the same quality of discussion? Edit: fixed its.
aneth 16y ago
Personally, this is where I come to find out what people obsessed with tech and start-ups are thinking about. I find most of the articles that are not directly related (that I click on anyway,) have some abstract tie-in to startup-land. The worst thing that could happen to HN would be to lose that character. It would lose its value to its audience, followed quickly by its audience being replaced by one I care a lot less about.
DrJokepu 16y ago
I hope it stays like that. When I first came here, me starting up my own business one day was really just a dream. This site and the great community here made me realise that the only obstacle is the lack willingness to make that step. These days I'm absolutely obsessed with my start-up. I really hope it's going to inspire many more people in the future, all these start-ups, each one individually on its own way, could really change how the next century will be like.
- skowmunk 16y ago
  It wasn't the source of my inspiration to start, but sure has been a good source of motivation to keep at it. Coming across different people tackling their problems one way or the other, and sometimes sharing their experience, it has been a very positive and supportive experience.

by ced 16y ago

frossie 16y ago

where are all the hacker biologists, psychiatrists, or gardeners? Err, we are here. You'd be wrong if you thought that everyone in HN is a startup person, or even a programmer. However, this is hacker news hosted on ycombinator.com. There is a prevailing standard focused on startups and even though I am not one of those people (nor do I wish to be), I do my bit to fit in with the community standard. It's like you are walking in a park and there's a bunch of people having an interesting conversation. You might ask to join in, but saying "why don't you people have an interesting conversation about clock mechanisms instead?" would be kinda rude. Saying "I love HN, but sometimes I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on tech and start-ups" strikes me as saying "I love the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra but I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on classical music". [Later edits in light of comments below:] The interesting question to ask is "why are the non-startup people here". I can only answer for myself: I came here to pick up interesting new sites (in that way I am a refugee from techcrunch - reading it felt too much like a lobotomy ). I stayed because of the quality of the discussion and because even though the startup folks sometimes seem to think they have a unique ecosystem, a lot of their issues are really common to software and even wider technical groups outside the commercial sector, like my own. So no, from that point of view I wouldn't go to an HN fork - I just can't afford another time sink, and I would still need to be on HN for my tech news. As for non-software stories, there are quite a lot of really interesting stories submitted, but they often don't gain enough traction for the home page. But there is a lot of really varied stuff in /new if you look.

ced 16y ago
I love the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra but I wish it wasn't so obsessively focused on classical music. What's wrong with such a wish? It's not like I'm going to picket in front of YC's offices. Regardless, would you be willing to move to a fork of HN?
jokermatt999 16y ago
I agree that Hacker News shouldn't shift its focus. However, I also think the gp post has a good point that it would be nice to see a wider variety of topics (although I'd prefer it to be a separate community). Is there another Hacker News-like site that has the same quality of discussion? Edit: fixed its.

aneth 16y ago

Personally, this is where I come to find out what people obsessed with tech and start-ups are thinking about. I find most of the articles that are not directly related (that I click on anyway,) have some abstract tie-in to startup-land. The worst thing that could happen to HN would be to lose that character. It would lose its value to its audience, followed quickly by its audience being replaced by one I care a lot less about.

DrJokepu 16y ago

I hope it stays like that. When I first came here, me starting up my own business one day was really just a dream. This site and the great community here made me realise that the only obstacle is the lack willingness to make that step. These days I'm absolutely obsessed with my start-up. I really hope it's going to inspire many more people in the future, all these start-ups, each one individually on its own way, could really change how the next century will be like.

skowmunk 16y ago
It wasn't the source of my inspiration to start, but sure has been a good source of motivation to keep at it. Coming across different people tackling their problems one way or the other, and sometimes sharing their experience, it has been a very positive and supportive experience.