4 ms·

HN probably aren't required to let me download my data, but it sure would be nice. Does that option exist, on this site?

mintplant 5y ago
If you really want it, you can probably get a dump of your data by emailing dang & co (hn@ycombinator.com). They're pretty responsive. Don't overwhelm them with superfluous requests, though.
GekkePrutser 5y ago
I'm sure it does as many third party clients offer features where you can read back your own posts etc.
- karlicoss 5y ago
  I'm personally using https://github.com/dogsheep/hacker-news-to-sqlite#usage https://github.com/dogsheep/hacker-news-to-sqlite#usage, it's great. You basically just need your username and that's it
  - GekkePrutser 5y ago
    Ooh nice thanks for the tip!! I'm making a "life log" system that stores stuff I do online automatically. This will come in very handy.
    - karlicoss 5y ago
      Oooh, I'm a big fun of lifelogging! You might want to check out some of my projects like https://github.com/karlicoss/HPI#readme https://github.com/karlicoss/HPI#readme :)
      - GekkePrutser 5y ago
        Nice, I had no idea this was already 'a thing' :) Thanks again for this! What I want to do is indeed capture my emails, social media posts, photos, location data and chats (I run everything through Matrix anyway so that's pretty easy). And then store it in a database (or just a filesystem per day, not sure about that yet - I see your concerns about databases for this and I agree). With the more sensitive stuff GPG encrypted. I'll see if your projects can help me out with this, thanks! Like you say in your readme, indeed my goal is to regain control of my information. And enable myself to actually do something with it.
gdulli 5y ago
I consider HN to be one of the most user hostile sites there is regarding user content because they don't allow deleting comments. They force people into making a manual request. Which means the feature essentially doesn't exist for casual use.
- inopinatus 5y ago
  The right to be forgotten is in tension with the need to preserve public discourse. Nevertheless I have deleted many comments within the available regret window. I do wonder whether they're actually removed from storage, or merely elided by software.
  - ClumsyPilot 5y ago
    "need to preserve public discourse." Never heard of it before?
rdiddly 5y ago
You can do it if you know how to use an API. See the 'API' link at the bottom of the page.
- oauea 5y ago
  Will this include all logs & data that aren't publicly visible? The HN software employs various dark patterns such as shadowbanning & rate limiting accounts, all this info would have to be disclosed to, in addition to any internal communication about your account.
  - yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago
    Really? I would have expected a bigger outcry if GDPR et al. required disclosure of shadowbanning & rate limits; could you possibly direct me to where I can find the exact requirements? Because that sounds like great fun to go exercise.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
NelsonMinar 5y ago
Actually, that's a question; the GDPR (Europe) and the CCPA (California) both require data download options. I don't know if Hacker News is a business that qualifies for this regulation though.

mintplant 5y ago

If you really want it, you can probably get a dump of your data by emailing dang & co (hn@ycombinator.com). They're pretty responsive. Don't overwhelm them with superfluous requests, though.

GekkePrutser 5y ago

I'm sure it does as many third party clients offer features where you can read back your own posts etc.

karlicoss 5y ago
I'm personally using https://github.com/dogsheep/hacker-news-to-sqlite#usage https://github.com/dogsheep/hacker-news-to-sqlite#usage, it's great. You basically just need your username and that's it
- GekkePrutser 5y ago
  Ooh nice thanks for the tip!! I'm making a "life log" system that stores stuff I do online automatically. This will come in very handy.
  - karlicoss 5y ago
    Oooh, I'm a big fun of lifelogging! You might want to check out some of my projects like https://github.com/karlicoss/HPI#readme https://github.com/karlicoss/HPI#readme :)
    - GekkePrutser 5y ago
      Nice, I had no idea this was already 'a thing' :) Thanks again for this! What I want to do is indeed capture my emails, social media posts, photos, location data and chats (I run everything through Matrix anyway so that's pretty easy). And then store it in a database (or just a filesystem per day, not sure about that yet - I see your concerns about databases for this and I agree). With the more sensitive stuff GPG encrypted. I'll see if your projects can help me out with this, thanks! Like you say in your readme, indeed my goal is to regain control of my information. And enable myself to actually do something with it.

gdulli 5y ago

I consider HN to be one of the most user hostile sites there is regarding user content because they don't allow deleting comments. They force people into making a manual request. Which means the feature essentially doesn't exist for casual use.

inopinatus 5y ago
The right to be forgotten is in tension with the need to preserve public discourse. Nevertheless I have deleted many comments within the available regret window. I do wonder whether they're actually removed from storage, or merely elided by software.
- ClumsyPilot 5y ago
  "need to preserve public discourse." Never heard of it before?

rdiddly 5y ago

You can do it if you know how to use an API. See the 'API' link at the bottom of the page.

oauea 5y ago
Will this include all logs & data that aren't publicly visible? The HN software employs various dark patterns such as shadowbanning & rate limiting accounts, all this info would have to be disclosed to, in addition to any internal communication about your account.
- yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago
  Really? I would have expected a bigger outcry if GDPR et al. required disclosure of shadowbanning & rate limits; could you possibly direct me to where I can find the exact requirements? Because that sounds like great fun to go exercise.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

NelsonMinar 5y ago

Actually, that's a question; the GDPR (Europe) and the CCPA (California) both require data download options. I don't know if Hacker News is a business that qualifies for this regulation though.