4 ms·

Interesting question. I think there are those of us that enjoy following along with a discussion as opposed to directly participating in it. A “lurker” if you

Interesting question. I think there are those of us that enjoy following along with a discussion as opposed to directly participating in it. A “lurker” if you will. For myself, I like to do this to see opposing viewpoints on a topic, to help crystalize my own thoughts. Also, I often read on mobile and don’t have the patience to write lengthy replies on my iPhone keyboard. I’m not necessarily saying that users like myself deserve the right to dowvote, but I do consider myself part of this community, even if I am not actively “participating” by writing comments.

37 5y ago
Thanks for putting it in those words. I am very much a lurker. If I did have the ability to downvote, I would do it maybe two or three times a year, like I do on reddit. >Also, I often read on mobile and don’t have the patience to write lengthy replies on my iPhone keyboard. This also rings true. Or sometimes when I don't have the time or energy to sit down and write out a reasoned response.
- tharkun__ 5y ago
  Disclaimer: I have been here way less than 10 years. At least w/ an account, lurking before that without an account even. Lengthy replies are not needed at all. Look at this recent article https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29756714 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29756714 and find my reply. Very short but it adds information to the discussion in that Microsoft is not alone in this and other large vendors have such problems too. I did a CTRL-F to see if anyone else had mentioned SAP already and since they didn't, I did a quick Google search to find corroborating evidence of what I knew from work like 10 years ago about SAP production systems shutting down due to DST changes. People upvoted this. Maybe, just maybe (!) - going out on a limb here that might get me downvoted, I didn't go through your comment history - there's a hint in your and your parent's reply: no patience for a reasoned response. I think if you really try for reasoned responses, even force yourself to type out that reasoned response, especially on the phone, as it slows you down, it can give you the time you need to make it a reasoned response. It's very easy and fast to write an inflammatory response. Side note: I don't know if you have ever been downvoted yourself but that obviously doesn't help w/ the karma you got ;) If that is the case, there are other things we can discuss about how to change that but for now I won't just assume that this is the case and shut up.
gtirloni 5y ago
Just contribute some links and you'll get karma as well. No need to engage in discussions.

37 5y ago

Thanks for putting it in those words. I am very much a lurker. If I did have the ability to downvote, I would do it maybe two or three times a year, like I do on reddit. >Also, I often read on mobile and don’t have the patience to write lengthy replies on my iPhone keyboard. This also rings true. Or sometimes when I don't have the time or energy to sit down and write out a reasoned response.

tharkun__ 5y ago
Disclaimer: I have been here way less than 10 years. At least w/ an account, lurking before that without an account even. Lengthy replies are not needed at all. Look at this recent article https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29756714 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29756714 and find my reply. Very short but it adds information to the discussion in that Microsoft is not alone in this and other large vendors have such problems too. I did a CTRL-F to see if anyone else had mentioned SAP already and since they didn't, I did a quick Google search to find corroborating evidence of what I knew from work like 10 years ago about SAP production systems shutting down due to DST changes. People upvoted this. Maybe, just maybe (!) - going out on a limb here that might get me downvoted, I didn't go through your comment history - there's a hint in your and your parent's reply: no patience for a reasoned response. I think if you really try for reasoned responses, even force yourself to type out that reasoned response, especially on the phone, as it slows you down, it can give you the time you need to make it a reasoned response. It's very easy and fast to write an inflammatory response. Side note: I don't know if you have ever been downvoted yourself but that obviously doesn't help w/ the karma you got ;) If that is the case, there are other things we can discuss about how to change that but for now I won't just assume that this is the case and shut up.

gtirloni 5y ago

Just contribute some links and you'll get karma as well. No need to engage in discussions.