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Sure, but the exact opposite will also be getting done by groups of people, why not mention that?… I have over the past year seen many comments on specific topi

Sure, but the exact opposite will also be getting done by groups of people, why not mention that?… I have over the past year seen many comments on specific topics being closed down for no specific reason than to protect the powerful. If you want a more secure system to protect against manipulation, you won’t get it unless HN drastically changes the sign in measures (which would also be a nuisance)

fsflover 2y ago
Everybody complains about "many comments", but nobody provides links to them. This is not useful to solve a problem.
- Jakals55 2y ago
  Yes, that’s because they get flagged and deleted. Otherwise I’d have given you a list. Plus, even if I linked to specific comments the same thing would happen with mine - downvoted, flagged. I spend probably 20% of my day on HN, I’m embarrassed to say it, but I find it fascinating. Including the dark arts. Edit: I tested my theory on a particular topic and linked to a guardian piece today, and you will see that it has already been removed. The title was: “ Why did Delta Airlines tweet that the Palestinian flag is ‘terrifying’?” Now, if you are a hawk of HN like myself, and reasonable in any capacity, you’d see there was an absolute conversation piece to be had in an airline publicly saying a flag was terrifying… so many avenues of discussion. But it was closed down. I knew it would get closed down because like I say, HN is open to dark arts abuse. But regardless, that’s what we get. We cannot have our cake and eat it too. Yes, there are groups of the powerful looking to manipulate HN but it’s still a fantastic place which allows interesting conversation on other topics which don’t cross the toes of the powerful. I am fine with that. If you have an issue, can always make your own version!
  - pvg 2y ago
    How such articles are handled by both users and mods has been explained in related threads many times so the idea this is some unknown 'dark art' seems misplaced. 'Avenues of discussion' can be anything so it's not a useful criterion for being on or off topic. Also, flagged things aren't deleted so you can link examples if you've got them.

fsflover 2y ago

Everybody complains about "many comments", but nobody provides links to them. This is not useful to solve a problem.

Jakals55 2y ago
Yes, that’s because they get flagged and deleted. Otherwise I’d have given you a list. Plus, even if I linked to specific comments the same thing would happen with mine - downvoted, flagged. I spend probably 20% of my day on HN, I’m embarrassed to say it, but I find it fascinating. Including the dark arts. Edit: I tested my theory on a particular topic and linked to a guardian piece today, and you will see that it has already been removed. The title was: “ Why did Delta Airlines tweet that the Palestinian flag is ‘terrifying’?” Now, if you are a hawk of HN like myself, and reasonable in any capacity, you’d see there was an absolute conversation piece to be had in an airline publicly saying a flag was terrifying… so many avenues of discussion. But it was closed down. I knew it would get closed down because like I say, HN is open to dark arts abuse. But regardless, that’s what we get. We cannot have our cake and eat it too. Yes, there are groups of the powerful looking to manipulate HN but it’s still a fantastic place which allows interesting conversation on other topics which don’t cross the toes of the powerful. I am fine with that. If you have an issue, can always make your own version!
- pvg 2y ago
  How such articles are handled by both users and mods has been explained in related threads many times so the idea this is some unknown 'dark art' seems misplaced. 'Avenues of discussion' can be anything so it's not a useful criterion for being on or off topic. Also, flagged things aren't deleted so you can link examples if you've got them.