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I think it's pretty clear that increasing scale is the driver for the degradation of thoughtful connections between users. The past 20 years of the internet ha
by benjaminjosephw 6y ago
I think it's pretty clear that increasing scale is the driver for the degradation of thoughtful connections between users.
The past 20 years of the internet has been one big experiment in human communities where interactions are faceless and it has becoming increasingly difficult to imagine who you're speaking to. It's also often impossible to guess how many people will see what you post and much much harder to guess what kind of people will want to discuss it. How can you have a meaningful discussion with so little context?
In the past, communities like HN had a much more homogeneous user base and, like the article talks about, had a much narrower focus for discussion (i.e. more focused around CS). They also had fewer overall users.
I wonder if we need to redefine "internet scale" to include some organic constraints on healthy and well functioning human interactions. The social sciences might be somewhat woolly on that question but that's not to say such constraints don't exist (Dunbar's number being the best example).
Boundless community growth clearly doesn't work well. There have to be alternatives worth exploring.
- elorant 6y agoOn the other hand, it's the diversity of the users that make HN so much interesting. I've happened upon comments made from neurosurgeons, experts in carpeting, electrical engineers, naval architects, aerospace engineers etc. Where else on the Internet can you find such a diversified group of knowledgeable individuals where you can talk in a civilized manner? For me HN is the most significant place on the web and we must cherish it for what it offers.
- benjaminjosephw 6y agoAbsolutely, diversity is incredibly important when we're talking about different kinds of "intellectually curious" people. When diversity means letting in the trolls, the marketers and those less inclined to input constructively, that's when conversations start to degrade and loose value. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to encourage first type of diversity without becoming vulnerable to the second.
- elorant 6y agoThat's why we have voting. You start trolling, you're getting the boot.
- Chris2048 6y agoYou need a precise conception of trolling. going against the norm (or groupthink) and questioning them can also be seen as trolling.
- krapp 6y agoOnly if you're a low-effort and obvious troll, which unfortunately there seem to be plenty of. However, smart trolls (of which HN also has plenty) learn to adapt to the local culture. HN will often permit trolling as long as it's civil, and the mods won't ban an account that posts frequent troll comments if it also sometimes posts high quality comments.
- bregma 6y agoWhat we really need is some kind of consistent and homogenous diversity.