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I figured this could get flagged, just like the post on DOGE trademark. I’m pointing out that a legitimate discussion about the vulnerability of scientific rep
by kordlessagain 2y ago
I figured this could get flagged, just like the post on DOGE trademark.
I’m pointing out that a legitimate discussion about the vulnerability of scientific repositories (arXiv) to policy/funding pressures was flagged on HN. This is ironic given HN's own guidelines state they welcome content that "gratifies intellectual curiosity" and represents "interesting new phenomena."
The fact that a discussion about potential threats to open scientific repositories could be flagged/censored on HN effectively proves the very point being discussed - how platforms meant for technical and scientific discourse can be compromised by non-technical factors.
For dang (HN's moderator): This kind of moderation appears to contradict HN's core mission. A discussion about safeguarding scientific repositories like arXiv is exactly the kind of substantive, technically-relevant content that should be welcome on HN. When even discussions about protecting scientific discourse get suppressed, it validates the original concern about vulnerability to censorship and control. It doesn’t matter what rationalization was used for censorship. If the threat exists to technical achievements, it must not be censored. Rules be damned.
The irony is particularly sharp given that HN and arXiv share similar goals of fostering intellectual discourse and technical/scientific advancement.
- kennysoona 2y agoI guess this stuff is getting flagged as the discussions are devolving to politics. What I find more concerning is why the ostensibly educated population of HN readers wouldn't be unified on being on the right side of things.
- pixelpoet 2y agoI don't see how it's "devolving" into politics, because it fundamentally is about a political attack. It's as if someone is reacting to the library of Alexandria burning and getting told "now come on, don't make it political..."
- kennysoona 2y agoI kind of agree with you. What I mean is, I guess, is it devolves into unproductive political discussion, lots of stuff being asserted, lots of emotion, and little in the way of facts and evidence.
- amarcheschi 2y agoReality has a well known liberal bias
- DaSHacka 2y agoAh, a perfect nonsensical sentence only those with the same political ideology would ever agree with. "Reality has a well-proven bias leaning towards whatever I so happen to believe"
- amarcheschi 2y agoIt's a quote[1] I found particularly apt in answering the comment [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Reality_has_a_well_known_liberal_bias&redirect=no https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Reality_has_a_well_known_lib...
- aaron695 2y agoMods have extensively answered this question multiple times which this comment ignores. Can't be fucked doing a search. This lack of respect sums it all up and why it should be flagged. Can't put the bare minimum in so why bother having a discussion to hear more brain farts we can read on Reddit? [Edit] Surprisingly the comments other than this one are not bad for a change. There is a question why ArXiv would be affected that's not clear.
- belter 2y ago> The fact that a discussion about potential threats to open scientific repositories could be flagged/censored on HN effectively proves the very point being discussed - how platforms meant for technical and scientific discourse can be compromised by non-technical factors. You should also known, that some of the accounts who posted some of these links who get flagged within seconds, got throttles set on them, that included how many stories they can post every 24 hours and that include actual number of comments or replies on threads, sometimes causing them to being unable to reply to an actual question from somebody. Some of these accounts have years here, and never had similar throttles put on them. Moderating HN is a task I don't envy, and appreciate @dang work immensely...But like they say, transparency is the best disinfectant. Or maybe the usual mods are being overruled?
- vorpalhex 2y agoHN is not about what is "good". It is not a value judgement on your post or it's topic. The guidelines have this at the top: What to Submit On-Topic: Anything that good hackers would find interesting. That includes more than hacking and startups. If you had to reduce it to a sentence, the answer might be: anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity. Off-Topic: Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, or celebrities, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon. Videos of pratfalls or disasters, or cute animal pictures. If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic. -- Please note the part about politics.
- dang 2y agoI've answered this in many posts over the last several weeks. If you didn't see those, here are some starting points: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43051836 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43051836 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42978389 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42978389 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42911011 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42911011 If you (or anyone) take a look at those and the links they point to, and still have a question that isn't answered there, I'd be happy to take a crack at it.
- kordlessagain 2y agoI appreciate the clarification and I’m thankful for the work you do here. I will get back shortly.