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“Moderating HN is like a cross between a postdoc gig and the Navy SEALs”
- mikl 5y agoComparing anything done sitting at the computer to the Navy SEALs is risible.
- dang 5y agoYes, it was a joke.
- thomassmith65 5y agoEither way, thank you for your service.
- oonerspism 5y agoThe misguided notion that the entire SEAL world works entirely 100% free of any relationship to anything done sitting at a computer is... well, interesting to say the least! Intelligence and information play critical roles in SEAL operations, and computers are a key essential tool of that aspect.
- l33t2328 5y agoSo is serving them food during training and sewing their uniforms. Being essential to their job doesn’t make them comparable jobs.
- oonerspism 5y agoIt's good that nobody said they were comparable jobs, then. By the way, regarding computer work, I was talking about actual SEAL work, not support staff. The direct intelligence and digital recon work that intimately guides field teams is very much computer based, being carried out by personnel who are directly part of the SEAL structure. Even field-centric SEAL operatives themselves, there are probably 3 computers-worth of digital equipment on their person at any given time. So the tough-guy notion that "big military specops dudes have nothing to do with weak nerdy computer stuff, lol!" - which is embodied in the post calling the metaphor 'risible' - is very misguided indeed.
- Gollapalli 5y agoI think he just meant "level of physical risk undertaken."
- oonerspism 5y agoAgree + acknowledge. It's an arbitrary constraint however, to imply that any comparison to SEALs must be based upon physical prowess. Why should metaphors referencing the SEAL's mental tenacity, their problem solving abilities, their dedication, their principles, their protective role, their place as an agent of conflict, not be equally valid? Of course they are, and it's only those who put an overemphasis upon physical prowess (at the detriment of all else) who are offended by the author's metaphor here.
- l33t2328 5y ago> any comparison to SEALs must be based upon physical prowess Since items an inherently physical job, it makes sense. We all agree computers are important. That doesn’t make the comparison less ridiculous.
- oonerspism 5y agoFigures-of-speech allow for a broad range of comparison. As mentioned already, several key SEAL traits such as: presence in conflict; mental strength; role as specialists; frontline protection work keeping regular people safe; tenacity and dedication ..are also key traits of vastly disparate things like online moderation. Figures-of-speech referencing those other qualities are perfectly valid.
- l33t2328 5y agoComparing the level of these traits present in online moderators to the level of these traits present in SEALs is inexplicable.
- oonerspism 5y ago
- ThrowawayR2 5y agoIs it? Dealing with an unending 24x7 stream of public misbehavior and abuse has to be stressful and draining. For example, we have seen some number of moderators of Facebook and other major sites report PTSD.
- von_lohengramm 5y agoThis just made me realize that after years of browsing, I never knew dang's name until now. Thanks for all hard work, Daniel! You make this site one of the only usable link aggregators left.