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Why do you believe people who flood forums with spam deserve unconditional benefit of the doubt? Do you believe there is ever a level of comment that is so uni

Why do you believe people who flood forums with spam deserve unconditional benefit of the doubt? Do you believe there is ever a level of comment that is so uninformed that the author is not entitled to the benefit of the doubt?

wolverine876 3y ago
If it's truly spam, flag the comment (and downvote it) and move on; there's little of that on HN. I assume you're talking about comments we perceive as low-quality. The obvious solution there is to downvote them, but I think you are talking about responding: Passing judgment is very tenuous business and how I make most of my worst mistakes - then I'm the fool, who is spamming and worse, poisoning the conversation. Much better to be curious and ask. Usually I learn that what I understood as spam was my limitation - I didn't think of another interpretation, or that the author just needed to spell out a good idea a bit more, and now I've learned something. And sometimes the author didn't think of something and they learn something from me, which they wouldn't do if I attacked them. It's also respectful, which is essential, and we have two people with positive interactions, which is also critical in this age. As an example, I personally would say, if I had to judge, that your comments are spamming this discussion, and in multipile ways that explicitly violate HN guidelines. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt, that you are an intelligent person in good faith - which you deserve - and I think we're both rewarded. Seriously, read the HN guidelines (link at bottom of page). They not only explain the ways of HN, they are a good guide to effective social media technique in general. > Do you believe there is ever ... My response is that hyperbolic, extreme hypotheticals lead to arguments and are not useful. Life does not happen at those extremes, nor does the interesting discussion.
- LargeTomato 3y ago
  It's interesting you feel like poisoning a conversation is wrong or bad. When I see a conversation or thread that is "bad" I feel like immediately poisoning it is a valid solution. A blunt one, no doubt, but in the face of overwhelming waves of "bad" or dangerous conversation it's a fine tool to have.
  - wolverine876 3y ago
    I would email the HN moderators - smart, responsive people who really know their stuff - and talk about it with them. They encourage people to reach out, including about things like what we're talking about. hn@ycombinator.com I'm not sure where they are today - usually they would have arrived long ago for a conversation like this one. You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but that type of activity - poisoning, etc. - isn't welcome on HN.

wolverine876 3y ago

If it's truly spam, flag the comment (and downvote it) and move on; there's little of that on HN. I assume you're talking about comments we perceive as low-quality. The obvious solution there is to downvote them, but I think you are talking about responding: Passing judgment is very tenuous business and how I make most of my worst mistakes - then I'm the fool, who is spamming and worse, poisoning the conversation. Much better to be curious and ask. Usually I learn that what I understood as spam was my limitation - I didn't think of another interpretation, or that the author just needed to spell out a good idea a bit more, and now I've learned something. And sometimes the author didn't think of something and they learn something from me, which they wouldn't do if I attacked them. It's also respectful, which is essential, and we have two people with positive interactions, which is also critical in this age. As an example, I personally would say, if I had to judge, that your comments are spamming this discussion, and in multipile ways that explicitly violate HN guidelines. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt, that you are an intelligent person in good faith - which you deserve - and I think we're both rewarded. Seriously, read the HN guidelines (link at bottom of page). They not only explain the ways of HN, they are a good guide to effective social media technique in general. > Do you believe there is ever ... My response is that hyperbolic, extreme hypotheticals lead to arguments and are not useful. Life does not happen at those extremes, nor does the interesting discussion.

LargeTomato 3y ago
It's interesting you feel like poisoning a conversation is wrong or bad. When I see a conversation or thread that is "bad" I feel like immediately poisoning it is a valid solution. A blunt one, no doubt, but in the face of overwhelming waves of "bad" or dangerous conversation it's a fine tool to have.
- wolverine876 3y ago
  I would email the HN moderators - smart, responsive people who really know their stuff - and talk about it with them. They encourage people to reach out, including about things like what we're talking about. hn@ycombinator.com I'm not sure where they are today - usually they would have arrived long ago for a conversation like this one. You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but that type of activity - poisoning, etc. - isn't welcome on HN.