3 ms·

Seems like unnecessary complexity to me.

by jey 16y ago

robg 16y ago
My worry too, but comments are completely unbounded. Which complexity is worse? It's really no surprise that trolls run rampant in comment threads. Commenting requires no social mores. By contrast, questions require consideration of another. Sure, trolls can be silly in questions but there's almost no power in dumb questions. A question is not only inherently social but brings humility along for the discourse.
- scott_s 16y ago
  I think "comments" is a misnomer. I think of it as "discussion," and questions are a part of any discussion.
  - robg 16y ago
    I'm not sure I see the distinction. You and I could have a discussion for an hour and I can walk away not sure of what transpired. It feels like something has happened but the outcome is unbounded, sort of like comment threads. By contrast, I could ask you a series of questions, even open-ended ones, and it will be pretty clear what the takeaways are. I'll know clearly what you think. And if not, I can always ask another question. Are questions though really a part of any discussion? How often do we see the "?" in threads here. It doesn't feel all that often and this is one of the best places online for discussions. Two helpful concepts here are "debate" and "interview". They're two very different forms of communication, right?
    - scott_s 16y ago
      It's a soft distinction, one of implication. I think we have discussions here. I think of "comments" as shouting in the ether, and that's usually not what we do. I disagree that the series of questions will necessarily result in a better understanding. Any meaningful set of questions will involve two-way communication for clarification, which quickly becomes what I call a discussion. Debate and interview are different, but I think HN comment threads are neither. I frequently see questions in HN threads. I sometimes ask them.

3 ms·

Seems like unnecessary complexity to me.

by jey 16y ago

Seems like unnecessary complexity to me.

robg 16y ago
My worry too, but comments are completely unbounded. Which complexity is worse? It's really no surprise that trolls run rampant in comment threads. Commenting requires no social mores. By contrast, questions require consideration of another. Sure, trolls can be silly in questions but there's almost no power in dumb questions. A question is not only inherently social but brings humility along for the discourse.
- scott_s 16y ago
  I think "comments" is a misnomer. I think of it as "discussion," and questions are a part of any discussion.
  - robg 16y ago
    I'm not sure I see the distinction. You and I could have a discussion for an hour and I can walk away not sure of what transpired. It feels like something has happened but the outcome is unbounded, sort of like comment threads. By contrast, I could ask you a series of questions, even open-ended ones, and it will be pretty clear what the takeaways are. I'll know clearly what you think. And if not, I can always ask another question. Are questions though really a part of any discussion? How often do we see the "?" in threads here. It doesn't feel all that often and this is one of the best places online for discussions. Two helpful concepts here are "debate" and "interview". They're two very different forms of communication, right?
    - scott_s 16y ago
      It's a soft distinction, one of implication. I think we have discussions here. I think of "comments" as shouting in the ether, and that's usually not what we do. I disagree that the series of questions will necessarily result in a better understanding. Any meaningful set of questions will involve two-way communication for clarification, which quickly becomes what I call a discussion. Debate and interview are different, but I think HN comment threads are neither. I frequently see questions in HN threads. I sometimes ask them.