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> Oh think of the kids! We really need to start discouraging the use of throwaway accounts for comments like this. One should be willing to stand by their beli

> Oh think of the kids! We really need to start discouraging the use of throwaway accounts for comments like this. One should be willing to stand by their beliefs and navigate the process of push-back with courage and honesty.

throwaway84_TO 8y ago
I was hoping for a more in-depth answer, but okay, ad-hominem it is then.
- MartinCron 8y ago
  There is a beautiful irony of an anonymous account complaining about ad-hominem arguments.
  - geuszb 8y ago
    Ad-nominem!
  - throwaway84_TO 8y ago
    Please see my response to piffy.
    - ihuman 8y ago
      Other users downvoted and flagged your comment until it died. Now you can only see if it you have dead comments visible.
      - throwaway84_TO 8y ago
        Ah, yes, I see that now. That's a shame - quite annoying really. I don't get it. I don't really see what it is I wrote that warranted getting "flagged". I just said I wasn't keen on maintaining an account and, with that, a HN reputation. I'm assuming it's against the rules to copy/paste my comment again in response to someone else so I'll just leave it, but that kills the want to participate. Ironically, I'd bet that had it been a Facebook algorithm moderating the content (instead of just anybody having the power to censure/flag) my comment would still stand - and in this case, that'd be more fair to "free speech". We are quick to plaster a company as "evil" and yet mob rule worries me more.
- pjc50 8y ago
  I think in one comment you've discovered the reason everyone is fed up with social media.
piffey 8y ago
I scroll right past any green accounts for that reason. What are you protecting by making a throwaway? Your magical internet points?
- throwaway84_TO 8y ago
  You know what is truly ironic? I don't have a "main" account to begin with. I am foremost a lurker. Why did I create a throwaway account, and why did I purposely name and highlight that it was a "throwaway"? Two reasons: 1) I wholeheartedly disagree with whole concept of Karma and "internet points" as a whole. I do not see how this adds any reputation to the user due to previous posts and there is absolutely no need for it. Posts can be "upvoted" and collect "points" on a thread by thread basis, but why should this extend to the user and follow them around? Just because someone has a cute cat doesn't mean their opinion about capitalism holds more merit. 2) It is my belief that some people would easily dismiss a comment, especially one with an unpopular opinion such as the one I wrote, and cry out "troll" if they saw that the post was made by a new user with no comment history. Whilst I understand having a comment history helps to support the fact that you are not trolling, not having one should not imply you are - but sadly that's often the case. For that reason, I (used to) think that creating an account and purposefully indicating that is "throwaway" would at least act to preemptively highlight that fact to anybody who was thinking about judging the content of the post based on previous comment history. Obviously, however, that doesn't seem to have helped here as the only comments so far have been related to the name and status of my account as opposed to the actual message contained in the comment. Hopefully the fact that I am taking the time to respond to these quick critics will at least help to support my "authenticity" as a commenter.
- ihuman 8y ago
  > What are you protecting by making a throwaway? Themselves. People will attack others on the internet for having an unpopular opinion that differs from their own. If your username is attached to your real name, then sometimes it's safer to post risky comments on an alternate account, instead of your real account. This is similar to when you have a public account and private account. Also you can't edit/delete comments after a couple hours, and you can't delete them after someone replies to you.
ajscanlan 8y ago
I personally think it's the argument that should be refuted, not the person making the argument.

throwaway84_TO 8y ago

I was hoping for a more in-depth answer, but okay, ad-hominem it is then.

MartinCron 8y ago
There is a beautiful irony of an anonymous account complaining about ad-hominem arguments.
- geuszb 8y ago
  Ad-nominem!
- throwaway84_TO 8y ago
  Please see my response to piffy.
  - ihuman 8y ago
    Other users downvoted and flagged your comment until it died. Now you can only see if it you have dead comments visible.
    - throwaway84_TO 8y ago
      Ah, yes, I see that now. That's a shame - quite annoying really. I don't get it. I don't really see what it is I wrote that warranted getting "flagged". I just said I wasn't keen on maintaining an account and, with that, a HN reputation. I'm assuming it's against the rules to copy/paste my comment again in response to someone else so I'll just leave it, but that kills the want to participate. Ironically, I'd bet that had it been a Facebook algorithm moderating the content (instead of just anybody having the power to censure/flag) my comment would still stand - and in this case, that'd be more fair to "free speech". We are quick to plaster a company as "evil" and yet mob rule worries me more.
pjc50 8y ago
I think in one comment you've discovered the reason everyone is fed up with social media.

piffey 8y ago

I scroll right past any green accounts for that reason. What are you protecting by making a throwaway? Your magical internet points?

throwaway84_TO 8y ago
You know what is truly ironic? I don't have a "main" account to begin with. I am foremost a lurker. Why did I create a throwaway account, and why did I purposely name and highlight that it was a "throwaway"? Two reasons: 1) I wholeheartedly disagree with whole concept of Karma and "internet points" as a whole. I do not see how this adds any reputation to the user due to previous posts and there is absolutely no need for it. Posts can be "upvoted" and collect "points" on a thread by thread basis, but why should this extend to the user and follow them around? Just because someone has a cute cat doesn't mean their opinion about capitalism holds more merit. 2) It is my belief that some people would easily dismiss a comment, especially one with an unpopular opinion such as the one I wrote, and cry out "troll" if they saw that the post was made by a new user with no comment history. Whilst I understand having a comment history helps to support the fact that you are not trolling, not having one should not imply you are - but sadly that's often the case. For that reason, I (used to) think that creating an account and purposefully indicating that is "throwaway" would at least act to preemptively highlight that fact to anybody who was thinking about judging the content of the post based on previous comment history. Obviously, however, that doesn't seem to have helped here as the only comments so far have been related to the name and status of my account as opposed to the actual message contained in the comment. Hopefully the fact that I am taking the time to respond to these quick critics will at least help to support my "authenticity" as a commenter.
ihuman 8y ago
> What are you protecting by making a throwaway? Themselves. People will attack others on the internet for having an unpopular opinion that differs from their own. If your username is attached to your real name, then sometimes it's safer to post risky comments on an alternate account, instead of your real account. This is similar to when you have a public account and private account. Also you can't edit/delete comments after a couple hours, and you can't delete them after someone replies to you.

ajscanlan 8y ago

I personally think it's the argument that should be refuted, not the person making the argument.