4 ms·

"Let me how I can help" isn't just a phrase, but means what it says Does it. Does it really.

vecter 7y ago
From the HN guidelines: "Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- EliRivers 7y ago
  I can see why you might think it was a shallow dismissal, but it actually has depth. You see, the words I was highlighting for their lack of meaning are themselves talking about meaning. It's possible this was an accident on the author's part, but it's also possible that it was deliberate, in which case the author is using irony (actual irony, not that rubbish the kids say is irony) to make their real point, and I'm applauding it. Hardly a dismissal. Either way, the reader extracts extra layers of meaning at this point. Remember all that stuff in school about literature and how to read beyond the literal, that HN tends to ignore in favour of pretending to be rational cyborgs? It was for this sort of thing. You missed the possible original point of the author, and my point as well. On the plus side, this comment could well have been a learning experience for you, so you should be happy with it.
  - techslave 7y ago
    it’s too subtle for HN. i’ve found myself too often on the wrong side of this as well. i’ve learned to just take the downvotes in stride. your rebuttal OTOH is overboard, deserving of the downvotes IMHO. sometimes you just have to make your point and take your licks.
  - Aeolun 7y ago
    Honestly, I think you are seeing things here. Nowhere in the original message do I detect even a hint of irony. Maybe this is something that is only visible for you because of your particular situation (e.g. someone always uses that phrase)? To be honest, I’m more bothered by the lack of a question mark though.
mcrad 7y ago
It sound pretty meaningless to me! It's like saying you're on your own and if anything goes wrong, don't tell me I didn't offer to help. Or the worst phrase ever: "let me know if you have any questions" (often following a barrage of gibberish empty talk). Kind of like saying if you have no questions then you totally agree with my poor vision/leadership.
- Aeolun 7y ago
  I always make it ‘please correct me if you think anything wrong’.

From the HN guidelines: "Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

EliRivers 7y ago
I can see why you might think it was a shallow dismissal, but it actually has depth. You see, the words I was highlighting for their lack of meaning are themselves talking about meaning. It's possible this was an accident on the author's part, but it's also possible that it was deliberate, in which case the author is using irony (actual irony, not that rubbish the kids say is irony) to make their real point, and I'm applauding it. Hardly a dismissal. Either way, the reader extracts extra layers of meaning at this point. Remember all that stuff in school about literature and how to read beyond the literal, that HN tends to ignore in favour of pretending to be rational cyborgs? It was for this sort of thing. You missed the possible original point of the author, and my point as well. On the plus side, this comment could well have been a learning experience for you, so you should be happy with it.
- techslave 7y ago
  it’s too subtle for HN. i’ve found myself too often on the wrong side of this as well. i’ve learned to just take the downvotes in stride. your rebuttal OTOH is overboard, deserving of the downvotes IMHO. sometimes you just have to make your point and take your licks.
- Aeolun 7y ago
  Honestly, I think you are seeing things here. Nowhere in the original message do I detect even a hint of irony. Maybe this is something that is only visible for you because of your particular situation (e.g. someone always uses that phrase)? To be honest, I’m more bothered by the lack of a question mark though.

mcrad 7y ago

It sound pretty meaningless to me! It's like saying you're on your own and if anything goes wrong, don't tell me I didn't offer to help. Or the worst phrase ever: "let me know if you have any questions" (often following a barrage of gibberish empty talk). Kind of like saying if you have no questions then you totally agree with my poor vision/leadership.

Aeolun 7y ago
I always make it ‘please correct me if you think anything wrong’.