5 ms·

That’s a very clickbaity title. I was reading the article and sharpening my pitchfork up until the middle when I had to stop and put it down (the metaphorical

That’s a very clickbaity title. I was reading the article and sharpening my pitchfork up until the middle when I had to stop and put it down (the metaphorical pitchfork)

rkangel 6y ago
Yes, it isn't very clear about whether the demotion was chosen or not. "I followed my dreams to be demoted to software developer" or "I followed my dream of being demoted to..." would be much clearer.
duckfruit 6y ago
I don't know if I'd call it clickbait. Whimsically worded, sure, but the author did literally go from being a Director of design to an associate software developer so it doesn't seem inaccurate to call it a demotion.
- saghm 6y ago
  This might be excessively nitpicky, but the use of the phrase "_got_ demoted" (emphasis mine) implies to me a lack of control over the situation. It's technically correct, but it sounds like it was a punishment rather than what it actually was (namely, a career choice).
  - emptyfile 6y ago
    Same. English isn't my first language so I'm not sure, but the title doesn't' seem sincere when the subtitle reads "Kristina Lustig, formerly our Director of Design, explains why she took a new role as an associate software developer"
    - bradlys 6y ago
      English is my first language. I'm American on top of it. This is a clickbait title. It conveys an incorrect meaning. People can talk about formal definitions all they want - it doesn't matter. Language isn't always about formal definitions - it's more often about how people use it. In this case - the headline is being used to grab eyes, is clickbait, and is wrong about the contents of the article. Your new headline would be better but it wouldn't have attracted any views.
- cperciva 6y ago
  This reminds me of a joke about a violist who finds a magic lamp and asks to become a better musician. Promotion depends on perspective.
  - Gehinnn 6y ago
    Do you mean this joke? [1] Don't disrespect the violists! [1] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ab5oht/a_violists_3_wishes/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ab5oht/a_violists_3_...)
    - cperciva 6y ago
      Yes, subject to minor variations. The version I heard had him going from the back of the section in a community (amateur) orchestra to playing in the Toronto Symphony to leading the viola section in the Berlin Philharmonic -- and making the same wish ("make me a better musician") each time.
fossislife 6y ago
The website's title is okay "to get demoted", it is the Hacker News title that is clickbait: "and got demoted".
delecti 6y ago
It seems clear to me from the title that the demotion was deliberate. The content of the article was more or less exactly what I expected from the title, which seems to contradict the notion that it's clickbait.

That’s a very clickbaity title. I was reading the article and sharpening my pitchfork up until the middle when I had to stop and put it down (the metaphorical pitchfork)

rkangel 6y ago

Yes, it isn't very clear about whether the demotion was chosen or not. "I followed my dreams to be demoted to software developer" or "I followed my dream of being demoted to..." would be much clearer.

duckfruit 6y ago

I don't know if I'd call it clickbait. Whimsically worded, sure, but the author did literally go from being a Director of design to an associate software developer so it doesn't seem inaccurate to call it a demotion.

saghm 6y ago
This might be excessively nitpicky, but the use of the phrase "_got_ demoted" (emphasis mine) implies to me a lack of control over the situation. It's technically correct, but it sounds like it was a punishment rather than what it actually was (namely, a career choice).
- emptyfile 6y ago
  Same. English isn't my first language so I'm not sure, but the title doesn't' seem sincere when the subtitle reads "Kristina Lustig, formerly our Director of Design, explains why she took a new role as an associate software developer"
  - bradlys 6y ago
    English is my first language. I'm American on top of it. This is a clickbait title. It conveys an incorrect meaning. People can talk about formal definitions all they want - it doesn't matter. Language isn't always about formal definitions - it's more often about how people use it. In this case - the headline is being used to grab eyes, is clickbait, and is wrong about the contents of the article. Your new headline would be better but it wouldn't have attracted any views.
cperciva 6y ago
This reminds me of a joke about a violist who finds a magic lamp and asks to become a better musician. Promotion depends on perspective.
- Gehinnn 6y ago
  Do you mean this joke? [1] Don't disrespect the violists! [1] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ab5oht/a_violists_3_wishes/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ab5oht/a_violists_3_...)
  - cperciva 6y ago
    Yes, subject to minor variations. The version I heard had him going from the back of the section in a community (amateur) orchestra to playing in the Toronto Symphony to leading the viola section in the Berlin Philharmonic -- and making the same wish ("make me a better musician") each time.

fossislife 6y ago

The website's title is okay "to get demoted", it is the Hacker News title that is clickbait: "and got demoted".

delecti 6y ago

It seems clear to me from the title that the demotion was deliberate. The content of the article was more or less exactly what I expected from the title, which seems to contradict the notion that it's clickbait.