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You can assume that for any subject other than CS, unless someone specifically mentions their credentials in the field, most commenters won't know what they're
by krapp 1y ago
You can assume that for any subject other than CS, unless someone specifically mentions their credentials in the field, most commenters won't know what they're talking about. Hacker News has a reputation for "aggressive ignorance" outside of its wheelhouse.
Remember, HN isn't exactly checking anyone's CV at the door. All it takes to post here is knowing how to fill out a web form. The culture here tends to believe the simplistic design somehow draws deep technical intellects like moths to a flame but it really doesn't.
- bunabhucan 1y agoI get that, what's hard is if my made up chip designer is commenting about UI coding or networking topology or something closer to HNs heart.
- krapp 1y agoYeah, the technical content on HN is kind of a crapshoot too, unfortunately. Just slightly less so than everything else. I guess it's better to view HN as entertainment than expertise overall.
- vacuity 1y agoThat's why I like to read most of the comments on a post, because typically I'll find some useful information scattered throughout. After I'm done, I can roughly get a sense for "excellent comments", "comments that probably have a good point", "medium-quality arguing", and "probably just wrong comments". Then I may seek out other submissions of the same topics to get more data. Over time, I refine which points I think are probably valid. HN has its gems, just perhaps not as often or obvious as advertised.