6 ms·

I often think how every headline on HN could be inverted into its 180 degree opposite and it would get as many upvotes. I often also think its crazy how people

by Exuma 3y ago

I often think how every headline on HN could be inverted into its 180 degree opposite and it would get as many upvotes. I often also think its crazy how people are painfully unaware of this fact... I swear these have got to be the stupidest headlines, and yet people don't seem to ever have an original thought about it, just for a fraction of a moment..... a moment of awareness that shows them that their factually stated headline is actually 100% not a fact.

PH95VuimJjqBqy 3y ago
Maybe stop reading the titles as a statement of fact. I certainly didn't interpret it that way, your statement is obvious enough that it immediately turns the headline into a strongly held opinion.
- Exuma 3y ago
  When a headline is written as a fact, I see it as a fact. I refuse to read uncreative factually written headlines as any other way, as its basically attempting to spoon feed the reader into some basic idea. This is in a similar way to how CNN or popular news stations talk to you as if you are a 5th grader. I read headlines as they're written, and creative headlines get my attention, and stupid headlines go into the waste bin of all the other stupid headlines stated as facts which are not facts.
  - PH95VuimJjqBqy 3y ago
    that's a you problem.
    - Exuma 3y ago
      There is in fact, no problem at all
      - PH95VuimJjqBqy 3y ago
        I too generally post rants on things I don't consider to be a problem...
gavinhoward 3y ago
Author here. It is 100% a fact, not because code is or isn't an asset in the financial sense, but because "code is an asset" is my mental model that I think could help others. You cannot say that my mental model is not a fact; only I can say that. Also, if you don't think it's a good model, you should argue why instead of just saying I'm wrong with no substance.
- Exuma 3y ago
  > is my mental model Exact proof what what I'm saying. Your mental model isn't a "fact" it is a perception group of beliefs. A red ball is red is a fact. "all code is technical debt" is a stupidly worded headline as if its a fact, when it is absolutely nothing more than a useless opinion in a sea of a million contradicting other opinions that say the opposite. Instead, a headline can be worded to not be stupid by not attempting to write it as a fact, but as the ACTUAL benefit, or ACTUAL point being made... Your perspective is unique, special, in makes you different. Share THAT, emphasize THAT. dont water it down with stupid genericness. The original title by Paul McMahon is equally as stupid as this one Yet, people keep doing it, over, and over, ad nauseum. I think people just simply don't realize how unoriginal they are, its like do they have even a fraction of awareness to try to be different? Your headline is how you captivate people, actually try to state the intent/purpose so it's useful, to get into the mind of the person reading. Not to use a hammer trying to clean some fine china. "Keeping my projects maintainable by thinking about them differently" or something, literally anything. I didnt look at your article except skimming, and this is an off the cuff idea in 1 second, but you get the idea. It's something that the reader sees as a benefit, or something nuanced that they can learn... some part of your perspective they can integrate... not some basic-level statement of fact they're going to immediately agree/disagree with... as if this is your only tool in your toolbox to get attention or build curiosity
  - gavinhoward 3y ago
    My mental model is still a fact in that it exists. In addition, headlines do have to be kinda clickbaity to get traction. Also, your "skim" was hardly even that considering I put useful summaries at the beginning and end. Read the one at the end.

by Exuma 3y ago

PH95VuimJjqBqy 3y ago

Maybe stop reading the titles as a statement of fact. I certainly didn't interpret it that way, your statement is obvious enough that it immediately turns the headline into a strongly held opinion.

Exuma 3y ago
When a headline is written as a fact, I see it as a fact. I refuse to read uncreative factually written headlines as any other way, as its basically attempting to spoon feed the reader into some basic idea. This is in a similar way to how CNN or popular news stations talk to you as if you are a 5th grader. I read headlines as they're written, and creative headlines get my attention, and stupid headlines go into the waste bin of all the other stupid headlines stated as facts which are not facts.
- PH95VuimJjqBqy 3y ago
  that's a you problem.
  - Exuma 3y ago
    There is in fact, no problem at all
    - PH95VuimJjqBqy 3y ago
      I too generally post rants on things I don't consider to be a problem...

gavinhoward 3y ago

Author here. It is 100% a fact, not because code is or isn't an asset in the financial sense, but because "code is an asset" is my mental model that I think could help others. You cannot say that my mental model is not a fact; only I can say that. Also, if you don't think it's a good model, you should argue why instead of just saying I'm wrong with no substance.

Exuma 3y ago
> is my mental model Exact proof what what I'm saying. Your mental model isn't a "fact" it is a perception group of beliefs. A red ball is red is a fact. "all code is technical debt" is a stupidly worded headline as if its a fact, when it is absolutely nothing more than a useless opinion in a sea of a million contradicting other opinions that say the opposite. Instead, a headline can be worded to not be stupid by not attempting to write it as a fact, but as the ACTUAL benefit, or ACTUAL point being made... Your perspective is unique, special, in makes you different. Share THAT, emphasize THAT. dont water it down with stupid genericness. The original title by Paul McMahon is equally as stupid as this one Yet, people keep doing it, over, and over, ad nauseum. I think people just simply don't realize how unoriginal they are, its like do they have even a fraction of awareness to try to be different? Your headline is how you captivate people, actually try to state the intent/purpose so it's useful, to get into the mind of the person reading. Not to use a hammer trying to clean some fine china. "Keeping my projects maintainable by thinking about them differently" or something, literally anything. I didnt look at your article except skimming, and this is an off the cuff idea in 1 second, but you get the idea. It's something that the reader sees as a benefit, or something nuanced that they can learn... some part of your perspective they can integrate... not some basic-level statement of fact they're going to immediately agree/disagree with... as if this is your only tool in your toolbox to get attention or build curiosity
- gavinhoward 3y ago
  My mental model is still a fact in that it exists. In addition, headlines do have to be kinda clickbaity to get traction. Also, your "skim" was hardly even that considering I put useful summaries at the beginning and end. Read the one at the end.