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HN itself is one such black-hole of data permanentness. They do not support deletion of your data, modifying of your data after 1h, and are what I would descri

HN itself is one such black-hole of data permanentness. They do not support deletion of your data, modifying of your data after 1h, and are what I would describe as a data-tarpit. Nor do they support any of the European privacy directives. Sure, they're in the US, but they should definitely be forward-thinking about this stuff - The writing's on the wall. It's why I create junk accounts and abandon them after a bit. Then again, this too is the endemic problem with how silicon valley is run.

dredmorbius 5y ago
Can I delete my account? We try not to delete entire account histories because that would gut the threads the account had participated in. However, we care about protecting individual users and take care of privacy requests every day, so if we can help, please email hn@ycombinator.com. We don't want anyone to get in trouble from anything they posted to HN. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23623799 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23623799
- noasaservice 5y ago
  I figured SOMEONE would have responded to that. This has the same energy as "Click here to create account, but do a whole bunch outside the account to delete it". It's like NYT doing the scammy "pay online, but cancel after calling on business hours to a retention specialist, and they may also just ignore your *request*" The simple answer: put this in the website, not some email that may or may not actually request anything.
  - dredmorbius 5y ago
    Though I've not requested deletion, I've found HN's mod team exceptionally responsive in general. Have you actually tried to follow the process? Are you aware of any instances in which requests have been denied?
    - noasaservice 5y ago
      If I'm trying to keep my self anonymous-ish, Why do YOU think email is the best way to do that? This should be in-app as a request or an action I can self-execute. "Email us" is the New York Times model of "buy online, but deal with hours of phone-hell"
      - dredmorbius 5y ago
        What would satisfy you? What possible issues might that create? What specifically is your issue with an email-based request? You seem to be seeking opportunities to be unsatisfied. Those tend to be easy to find.
      - vineyardmike 5y ago
        HN is a forum for entrepreneurs and techies. Anonymity is probably a non-goal.
        dredmorbius 5y ago
        Meh. I've pointedly avoided revealing my meatspace identity. Though simultaneously cultivating some manner of pseudonymous reputation. There are numerous other anonymous / pseudonymous members, and throwaway usernames are supported for that reason though discouraged in general use, to cultivate community. It's an interesting balance.

dredmorbius 5y ago

Can I delete my account? We try not to delete entire account histories because that would gut the threads the account had participated in. However, we care about protecting individual users and take care of privacy requests every day, so if we can help, please email hn@ycombinator.com. We don't want anyone to get in trouble from anything they posted to HN. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23623799 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23623799

noasaservice 5y ago
I figured SOMEONE would have responded to that. This has the same energy as "Click here to create account, but do a whole bunch outside the account to delete it". It's like NYT doing the scammy "pay online, but cancel after calling on business hours to a retention specialist, and they may also just ignore your *request*" The simple answer: put this in the website, not some email that may or may not actually request anything.
- dredmorbius 5y ago
  Though I've not requested deletion, I've found HN's mod team exceptionally responsive in general. Have you actually tried to follow the process? Are you aware of any instances in which requests have been denied?
  - noasaservice 5y ago
    If I'm trying to keep my self anonymous-ish, Why do YOU think email is the best way to do that? This should be in-app as a request or an action I can self-execute. "Email us" is the New York Times model of "buy online, but deal with hours of phone-hell"
    - dredmorbius 5y ago
      What would satisfy you? What possible issues might that create? What specifically is your issue with an email-based request? You seem to be seeking opportunities to be unsatisfied. Those tend to be easy to find.
    - vineyardmike 5y ago
      HN is a forum for entrepreneurs and techies. Anonymity is probably a non-goal.
      - dredmorbius 5y ago
        Meh. I've pointedly avoided revealing my meatspace identity. Though simultaneously cultivating some manner of pseudonymous reputation. There are numerous other anonymous / pseudonymous members, and throwaway usernames are supported for that reason though discouraged in general use, to cultivate community. It's an interesting balance.