5 ms·

I came across a comment on HN not too long ago that really resonated with me. The commenter mentioned that they do not comment to have a conversation with the O

I came across a comment on HN not too long ago that really resonated with me. The commenter mentioned that they do not comment to have a conversation with the OP. Instead, they treat commenting as writing notes about the topic at hand. Because of this, they don't expect responses or anticipate an argument (or even conversation). They mark down their thoughts and move on. It's been a really effective mindset for me thus far ad has shaped my responses for the better.

habnds 7y ago
this is an interesting approach that I should try to remember.
cameronbrown 7y ago
I remember exactly the comment having an impact on me too. Definitely not the best at it but it's at least given me a new way to think about the responses I'm making.
- QuixoticQuibit 7y ago
  I don’t suppose you have that comment saved, do you?
geoka9 7y ago
> Instead, they treat commenting as writing notes about the topic at hand. But for what purpose? Or is it just a way of tricking oneself as a coping mechanism?
- TooCleverByHalf 7y ago
  In the short time I've been applying this technique I've found my comments are either an attempt to add my own notes of clarification to the subject at hand or as a tool to help concrete a concept related to the subject; a sort of a repetitive reinforcement of the concept. For me, at least, it's less a coping mechanism and more a mindset I've found to be more constructive both online and off.
- saltcured 7y ago
  To me, this is not really a conversational arena. An effort to post a comment floats somewhere between editing a wiki page and adding margin comments while reviewing a manuscript. The tree of comments provides hook points for tangential observations or counterpoints. I am more often thinking of the silent readers than the parent comment author when I post a reply. If I notice a reply to my comments, I don't feel compelled to respond by conversational norms. I am more likely to reply if I see evidence that my original comment has failed to communicate my thoughts, and less likely to reply if I think I was understood but merely have disagreement. As a reader, I also get more out of the interesting alternate viewpoints that I see from people using the site in a similar manner. I don't tend to want to read comment chains that look like a transcribed conversation between only a few people.
- hutzlibu 7y ago
  For the sake of knowledge itself. If something is wrong, I feel urged to set it right.. You know, progress of humankind etc. ...
- rbavocadotree 7y ago
  The purpose is to think better and understand more. Putting your thoughts into writing is probably the best way to organize your thinking, determine what you actually know, and further develop your thoughts on the subject.
  - geoka9 7y ago
    True, but why bother doing it in public? Unless you want someone else to read your notes, and maybe upvote and/or reply to them?
    - muzani 7y ago
      "Writing doesn't just communicate ideas; it generates them. If you're bad at writing and don't like to do it, you'll miss out on most of the ideas writing would have generated." Full source: http://www.paulgraham.com/writing44.html http://www.paulgraham.com/writing44.html
      - asdff 7y ago
        The value of writing is pretty clear imo. What doesn't make much sense to me is posting your margin notes on a public internet forum.
        yason 7y ago
        The "margin notes" are usually ten times more interesting to read than "discussion threads" where few people try to convey their points back and forth. That sort of argumentation is generally just boring to read, lacks value, and happens between the two or three people involved. As such, it doesn't really contribute much value on a public internet forum and I usually skip all that stuff myself. You can sense if a comment is written for no one in particular. It washes away all the need to argue, and it humbly gives to each reader what they're willing to accept from it. This can be a lot or nothing but it all depends on the reader, too. I write comments with a similar idea in mind. I feel that if what I've written might give one person an idea, point of validation, sense of similarity, or a moment to seriously think about something for a while, it's worth posting. I of course do not know beforehand whether this happens or which year it might happen if it does. I rarely write as a direct response to the parent, and if I do I tend to eventually diverge from the "reply mode" to "writing mode".
- buboard 7y ago
  well since there isnt another mechanism to take a mental note of a topic or comment here, posting a comment acts like a bookmark.
- jackcosgrove 7y ago
  I am constantly learning from my own internal dialogue. Maybe the note taker is trying to arrive at a better understanding of something on their own.

habnds 7y ago

this is an interesting approach that I should try to remember.

cameronbrown 7y ago

I remember exactly the comment having an impact on me too. Definitely not the best at it but it's at least given me a new way to think about the responses I'm making.

QuixoticQuibit 7y ago
I don’t suppose you have that comment saved, do you?

geoka9 7y ago

> Instead, they treat commenting as writing notes about the topic at hand. But for what purpose? Or is it just a way of tricking oneself as a coping mechanism?

TooCleverByHalf 7y ago
In the short time I've been applying this technique I've found my comments are either an attempt to add my own notes of clarification to the subject at hand or as a tool to help concrete a concept related to the subject; a sort of a repetitive reinforcement of the concept. For me, at least, it's less a coping mechanism and more a mindset I've found to be more constructive both online and off.
saltcured 7y ago
To me, this is not really a conversational arena. An effort to post a comment floats somewhere between editing a wiki page and adding margin comments while reviewing a manuscript. The tree of comments provides hook points for tangential observations or counterpoints. I am more often thinking of the silent readers than the parent comment author when I post a reply. If I notice a reply to my comments, I don't feel compelled to respond by conversational norms. I am more likely to reply if I see evidence that my original comment has failed to communicate my thoughts, and less likely to reply if I think I was understood but merely have disagreement. As a reader, I also get more out of the interesting alternate viewpoints that I see from people using the site in a similar manner. I don't tend to want to read comment chains that look like a transcribed conversation between only a few people.
hutzlibu 7y ago
For the sake of knowledge itself. If something is wrong, I feel urged to set it right.. You know, progress of humankind etc. ...
rbavocadotree 7y ago
The purpose is to think better and understand more. Putting your thoughts into writing is probably the best way to organize your thinking, determine what you actually know, and further develop your thoughts on the subject.
- geoka9 7y ago
  True, but why bother doing it in public? Unless you want someone else to read your notes, and maybe upvote and/or reply to them?
  - muzani 7y ago
    "Writing doesn't just communicate ideas; it generates them. If you're bad at writing and don't like to do it, you'll miss out on most of the ideas writing would have generated." Full source: http://www.paulgraham.com/writing44.html http://www.paulgraham.com/writing44.html
    - asdff 7y ago
      The value of writing is pretty clear imo. What doesn't make much sense to me is posting your margin notes on a public internet forum.
      - yason 7y ago
        The "margin notes" are usually ten times more interesting to read than "discussion threads" where few people try to convey their points back and forth. That sort of argumentation is generally just boring to read, lacks value, and happens between the two or three people involved. As such, it doesn't really contribute much value on a public internet forum and I usually skip all that stuff myself. You can sense if a comment is written for no one in particular. It washes away all the need to argue, and it humbly gives to each reader what they're willing to accept from it. This can be a lot or nothing but it all depends on the reader, too. I write comments with a similar idea in mind. I feel that if what I've written might give one person an idea, point of validation, sense of similarity, or a moment to seriously think about something for a while, it's worth posting. I of course do not know beforehand whether this happens or which year it might happen if it does. I rarely write as a direct response to the parent, and if I do I tend to eventually diverge from the "reply mode" to "writing mode".
buboard 7y ago
well since there isnt another mechanism to take a mental note of a topic or comment here, posting a comment acts like a bookmark.
jackcosgrove 7y ago
I am constantly learning from my own internal dialogue. Maybe the note taker is trying to arrive at a better understanding of something on their own.