4 ms·

The game I'm playing is "read articles that HN users found interesting, and then see what other HN users had to say about that topic". I guess I can conclude t

The game I'm playing is "read articles that HN users found interesting, and then see what other HN users had to say about that topic". I guess I can conclude that davidkuennen is playing is some other game. They're probably very good at it, or at least having fun.

davidkuennen 4y ago
Busted. I will use this as a lesson to improve. :-)
- throwaway576 4y ago
xnorswap 4y ago
Yes, you're playing a losing game. Others read headlines, form their opinions and decide what they want to say, then come to the comments to say it. Usually they scan the comments to check they're on topic, then give their pre-formed opinion. Sometimes they'll instead share that they had a different idea about a different topic if the comments reveal they were mistaken about the topic. Occasionally they'll find another comment to reply to instead so they can further discuss their pre-formed opinions. Almost never they'll actually read the article more than a quick scan. Actually reading a whole article first before commenting is playing a losing game. You'll lose out to those who simply scan an article far enough to find a hook they can respond to. By the time you actually read, digest and respond to an article, the community will have largely moved on. The scan-until-hook crowd will appear more informed than the post-without-reading-a-word" crowd while maintaining much of the speed advantage of the non-readers. Simply giving pre-formed opinions and only if the commentary signal is strong enough then actually opening the article is a better strategy from a game theory perspective. It's a shame and there are times I feel compelled to fight back against it, but that doesn't always go well either. As you say, they're just playing a different game. Some may say I should take heed from the article and look for the perspective that makes that okay, but I prefer informed opinions rather than everyone's favourite pet arguments endlessly rehashed.
- mlatu 4y ago
  you forgot to account for stories behind a paywall. some will read it, most others wont example: the facebook retirement plan story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31271885 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31271885
- whynaut 4y ago
  fine with me. I usually just play the “scan the comments for unreasonably wise people to stalk” game.

davidkuennen 4y ago

Busted. I will use this as a lesson to improve. :-)

throwaway576 4y ago

xnorswap 4y ago

Yes, you're playing a losing game. Others read headlines, form their opinions and decide what they want to say, then come to the comments to say it. Usually they scan the comments to check they're on topic, then give their pre-formed opinion. Sometimes they'll instead share that they had a different idea about a different topic if the comments reveal they were mistaken about the topic. Occasionally they'll find another comment to reply to instead so they can further discuss their pre-formed opinions. Almost never they'll actually read the article more than a quick scan. Actually reading a whole article first before commenting is playing a losing game. You'll lose out to those who simply scan an article far enough to find a hook they can respond to. By the time you actually read, digest and respond to an article, the community will have largely moved on. The scan-until-hook crowd will appear more informed than the post-without-reading-a-word" crowd while maintaining much of the speed advantage of the non-readers. Simply giving pre-formed opinions and only if the commentary signal is strong enough then actually opening the article is a better strategy from a game theory perspective. It's a shame and there are times I feel compelled to fight back against it, but that doesn't always go well either. As you say, they're just playing a different game. Some may say I should take heed from the article and look for the perspective that makes that okay, but I prefer informed opinions rather than everyone's favourite pet arguments endlessly rehashed.

mlatu 4y ago
you forgot to account for stories behind a paywall. some will read it, most others wont example: the facebook retirement plan story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31271885 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31271885
whynaut 4y ago
fine with me. I usually just play the “scan the comments for unreasonably wise people to stalk” game.