3 ms·

I've used throwaway accounts here for a decade, since I post infrequently and don't care about karma, and it's never been a problem. Further, my comment wasn't

I've used throwaway accounts here for a decade, since I post infrequently and don't care about karma, and it's never been a problem. Further, my comment wasn't flamebait (or anything otherwise objectionable) and shouldn't have been flagged. While I have you, dang: the flagging on this site is out of control. Why do you allow users to so easily hide from others comments they dislike? The downvoting, I don't care about. But flagging should be reserved for things like spam, racial slurs, and other stuff that obviously doesn't need to be seen.

dang 5y ago
Although I turned off the flags on your comment, I don't agree that it wasn't flamebait. It was off-topic, generic, and provocative. It was even name-calling too ("ghastly"). That's a flamebait cocktail. Creating accounts for every few comments you post is a problem for the reason I just explained. Doing it for a decade doesn't make it ok. It makes it worse! In a way, this is a freeloader problem. The richness of the community here comes from people interacting and relating with each other over time. On HN people are welcome to do that anonymously (pseudonymously, for those who speak pedantic), but still need some identity for others to relate to. If you don't contribute that, you're freeloading in the sense that you're benefiting from what other people are giving, without giving anything comparable of yourself. That undermines the community. If everyone did it, we would have no community. Throwaway accounts are ok on occasion when there's some sensitive relevant information that shouldn't be linked to the main identity—but note that I said on occasion. Using them as a matter of course is abusive. That's also in the site guidelines: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.
- anonymous4759 5y ago
  >ghastly That's a perfectly apt description of someone who desires the death of others, especially the death (by extension) of their own parents and grandparents in the name of some vague notion of "progress." And many of these same people then laud a vaccine that will increase the life expectancy and reduce the suffering of millions of people, oblivious to the contradiction. >In a way, this is a freeloader problem. The richness of the community here comes from people interacting and relating with each other over time. On HN people are welcome to do that anonymously (pseudonymously, for those who speak pedantic), but still need some identity for others to relate to. If you don't contribute that, you're freeloading in the sense that you're benefiting from what other people are giving, without giving anything comparable of yourself. Dang, as far as I'm concerned, I'm the one who's contributed and asked for nothing in return. I never asked for points (karma), or the ability to censor (flag) others' posts I dislike, or the ability to de-emphasize those posts (downvote). Meanwhile, I routinely see "uberusers" here get leeway, not just from you, but from the flag- and downvote-happy users, that anonymous users like me do not get.
  - dang 5y ago
    Most people who break the guideline against calling names feel that they are "apt descriptions". It's still against HN's rules, so please don't. You can make your substantive points without that.

dang 5y ago

Although I turned off the flags on your comment, I don't agree that it wasn't flamebait. It was off-topic, generic, and provocative. It was even name-calling too ("ghastly"). That's a flamebait cocktail. Creating accounts for every few comments you post is a problem for the reason I just explained. Doing it for a decade doesn't make it ok. It makes it worse! In a way, this is a freeloader problem. The richness of the community here comes from people interacting and relating with each other over time. On HN people are welcome to do that anonymously (pseudonymously, for those who speak pedantic), but still need some identity for others to relate to. If you don't contribute that, you're freeloading in the sense that you're benefiting from what other people are giving, without giving anything comparable of yourself. That undermines the community. If everyone did it, we would have no community. Throwaway accounts are ok on occasion when there's some sensitive relevant information that shouldn't be linked to the main identity—but note that I said on occasion. Using them as a matter of course is abusive. That's also in the site guidelines: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.

anonymous4759 5y ago
>ghastly That's a perfectly apt description of someone who desires the death of others, especially the death (by extension) of their own parents and grandparents in the name of some vague notion of "progress." And many of these same people then laud a vaccine that will increase the life expectancy and reduce the suffering of millions of people, oblivious to the contradiction. >In a way, this is a freeloader problem. The richness of the community here comes from people interacting and relating with each other over time. On HN people are welcome to do that anonymously (pseudonymously, for those who speak pedantic), but still need some identity for others to relate to. If you don't contribute that, you're freeloading in the sense that you're benefiting from what other people are giving, without giving anything comparable of yourself. Dang, as far as I'm concerned, I'm the one who's contributed and asked for nothing in return. I never asked for points (karma), or the ability to censor (flag) others' posts I dislike, or the ability to de-emphasize those posts (downvote). Meanwhile, I routinely see "uberusers" here get leeway, not just from you, but from the flag- and downvote-happy users, that anonymous users like me do not get.
- dang 5y ago
  Most people who break the guideline against calling names feel that they are "apt descriptions". It's still against HN's rules, so please don't. You can make your substantive points without that.