5 ms·

Or... maybe HN is composed of different people with different viewpoints. People are more motivated to comment when they're upset about something, so it ends u

Or... maybe HN is composed of different people with different viewpoints. People are more motivated to comment when they're upset about something, so it ends up looking like everyone here hates everything big tech does, when it may be that a small number of people hate decision X, a small number of people hate decision Y, and most people either like them or don't care. You often hear complaints that big tech drives people to extreme viewpoints through algorithms. But the natural human algorithm of putting more effort into the negative than the positive seems to lead to the same outcome.

cecilpl2 5y ago
This is also why it's much more valuable to look at user metrics than actual feedback when making design decisions. Individual pieces of feedback can be valuable, but if you let it do the driving then you can end up making changes that worsen your product. You become subject to the will of the most vocal critics at any given moment.
- Karunamon 5y ago
  Be careful with this advice, though. Writing off feedback, as Mozilla does, can blow up in your face as you dismiss any and all criticism as being from a vocal minority of whiners.
rootusrootus 5y ago
> Or... maybe HN is composed of different people with different viewpoints. A useful concept for people to remember as it applies everywhere. Particularly as we get drawn into tribal politics, it would be better for people to remember that the opposition is not uniform and consists of many different viewpoints. For someone who wants to be divisive, it is trivial to cherry pick examples of bad behavior ("hypocritical") by pretending that those you disagree with must all share exactly the same priorities and opinions.
- wizzwizz4 5y ago
  Why pretend? If you genuinely believe it, the confirmation bias is likely to keep you from thinking about it enough to assess whether it's true. (Do you regularly re-assess whether the sky is blue, or whether you're wearing clothes? It's just there, background knowledge.)
  - rootusrootus 5y ago
    You are probably right, many people aren't pretending. They really do think their opponents are a monoculture. Convenient, I suppose, critical thinking takes effort.
    - wizzwizz4 5y ago
      Yeah. None of my opponents do critical thinking; it's a good thing my lot do.
zelon88 5y ago
This. The biggest example I can think of to prove your point is Microsoft. To provide a personal anecdote; I don't like using Microsoft products and always look for an open-source, unixy replacement when at home. I complain about Microsoft (products, economy, & policy) at almost every opportunity. And in the same breath I will wholeheartedly recommend the same Microsoft product that I personally wouldn't use to a client in need. The ubiquity and quality of Microsoft products is too significant to ignore. If I were to recommend one of my neckbeard alternatives I would certainly get support calls about it all the time. But if you only ever went by my social media posts you would think I absolutely hate Microsoft and vehemently refuse to use their products. That's not the case. I just don't get excited enough about Microsoft as a business to go parroting their marketing and waving their flag. The good balances the bad enough that I stay with the brand, but human negativity bias still exists and I've got to complain. The product is too ubiquitous to ignore.

cecilpl2 5y ago

This is also why it's much more valuable to look at user metrics than actual feedback when making design decisions. Individual pieces of feedback can be valuable, but if you let it do the driving then you can end up making changes that worsen your product. You become subject to the will of the most vocal critics at any given moment.

Karunamon 5y ago
Be careful with this advice, though. Writing off feedback, as Mozilla does, can blow up in your face as you dismiss any and all criticism as being from a vocal minority of whiners.

rootusrootus 5y ago

> Or... maybe HN is composed of different people with different viewpoints. A useful concept for people to remember as it applies everywhere. Particularly as we get drawn into tribal politics, it would be better for people to remember that the opposition is not uniform and consists of many different viewpoints. For someone who wants to be divisive, it is trivial to cherry pick examples of bad behavior ("hypocritical") by pretending that those you disagree with must all share exactly the same priorities and opinions.

wizzwizz4 5y ago
Why pretend? If you genuinely believe it, the confirmation bias is likely to keep you from thinking about it enough to assess whether it's true. (Do you regularly re-assess whether the sky is blue, or whether you're wearing clothes? It's just there, background knowledge.)
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  You are probably right, many people aren't pretending. They really do think their opponents are a monoculture. Convenient, I suppose, critical thinking takes effort.
  - wizzwizz4 5y ago
    Yeah. None of my opponents do critical thinking; it's a good thing my lot do.

zelon88 5y ago

This. The biggest example I can think of to prove your point is Microsoft. To provide a personal anecdote; I don't like using Microsoft products and always look for an open-source, unixy replacement when at home. I complain about Microsoft (products, economy, & policy) at almost every opportunity. And in the same breath I will wholeheartedly recommend the same Microsoft product that I personally wouldn't use to a client in need. The ubiquity and quality of Microsoft products is too significant to ignore. If I were to recommend one of my neckbeard alternatives I would certainly get support calls about it all the time. But if you only ever went by my social media posts you would think I absolutely hate Microsoft and vehemently refuse to use their products. That's not the case. I just don't get excited enough about Microsoft as a business to go parroting their marketing and waving their flag. The good balances the bad enough that I stay with the brand, but human negativity bias still exists and I've got to complain. The product is too ubiquitous to ignore.