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HN is the only place I can read comments that are genuinely disagreeable. And I know that sometimes that falls into some personalized negativity but it’s useful
by iambateman 1y ago
HN is the only place I can read comments that are genuinely disagreeable. And I know that sometimes that falls into some personalized negativity but it’s useful most of the time.
The other thing I appreciate about HN is it helps me practice writing.
Once graduating from University, there aren’t many built in ways to get regular writing practice and HN comments are it for me.
- nadermx 1y agoBlogging?
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- Imustaskforhelp 1y agoIt is also another good option but I find HN better in the sense that there are usually more chances of somebody responding to your comment/ ask post in HN in a similar minded way as compared to blogging if you are like me who has interests in lots of things. Also, I haven't really started a blog, or atleast I haven't stick to one (I make multiple mataroa accounts etc.) but its just that HN comments feel easier to me to type into and they are also generally more preferable to me atleast right now.
- ivape 1y agoIt also forces you to make sure you write so that you are understood. This gets rid of a lot of writers block because you are determined to make sure you are understood, almost like a mission. Otherwise, this place doesn’t work. It would be a giant LinkedIn showboat-off.
- ozim 1y agoIt is always surprising how people misinterpret things you wrote. Lots of time people reply to an emotion, “not” jokes don’t work well in writing. If you write first sentence to negate it in the paragraph breaks really fast.
- iambateman 1y agoI write a blog sometimes - iambateman.com/articles - and it’s great. But for daily writing I find it challenging to keep it up.
- thadt 1y agoIt’s useful for someone to be wrong on the Internet. I’ve learned a lot from watching constructive disagreements between other people. Regardless of whether they’re “right” or not, healthy disagreements sharpen our perspectives.
- musicale 1y agoCue joke about the way to get an answer on the internet is to post a wrong answer.
- iambateman 1y agoTactical wrongness is an underrated parenting technique too.
- stuffn 1y ago> HN is the only place I can read comments that are genuinely disagreeable. Only true if your general argument is still in line with the HN zeitgeist. You are allowed to disagree so long as you dont disagree on core topics. HN has the same problem reddit does in that a voting system in general necessarily introduces censorship and lack of diversity of discussion. While people here don't karma farm (or karma guard) as aggressively it takes almost nothing to end up shadowbanned/instant-flagged/etc for having a disagreeable standpoint. In other words, as long as you aren't right of center you can disagree all you want. Even a trivially libertarian viewpoint is met with significant ire. Voting systems in general are a massive problem in social media. They don't stop the truly bad actors but they drive away the exact thing that prevents you from being caught in an echo chamber (of which HN is an example of).
- LambdaComplex 1y ago> HN has the same problem reddit does in that a voting system in general necessarily introduces censorship and lack of diversity of discussion. The alternative is to be like 4chan, though. I'll begrudgingly admit that there are pros, but the cons definitely outweigh them.
- LexiMax 1y ago> The alternative is to be like 4chan, though 4chan's problem isn't the lack of a voting system, the problem comes from the complete anonymity of its users, the lack of friction to post, and the near complete lack of moderation standards. The very best online online communities I've ever been a part of - and continue to participate in - tend to have two major things in common. First, there has to be some sort of friction to join the conversation. Second, there are moderation standards, and these standards are only enforced with active and engaged moderators, and not by easily-gamed populism-driven systems.
- GeoAtreides 1y ago>The alternative is to be like 4chan False. The alternative might be something like spacebattles.
- 1y ago
- analog8374 1y agoFor very small values of disagreeable. The line is closer than you think. Cross it and your words just disappear.
- musicale 1y agoI find downvote-to-oblivion to be more irritating than beneficial. I particularly dislike it when comment sections erupt into downvote wars on anything that varies from the prevailing opinion in the room, irrespective of whether it makes a logical argument or contributes information or insight to the conversation.
- analog8374 1y agoMy primary peeve is the righteous confidence that comes with ignorance. What happened to humility?
- krapp 1y agoThis is a forum attached to a billion dollar Silicon Valley startup incubator. Everyone here wants to look like the next Steve Jobs in front of YC, no one wants to look like Steve Wozniak.
- ozim 1y agoLike the thought. Fun part is that most likely being Wóz would get you to be hired or partnered with because guys running the show think they all are Jobs.
- gsf_emergency_4 1y agoI'd say--- to a good approx--- everyone here in the comments wants to work like Wóz & sound like Jobs. (Very few are actively looking to be hired, and those that are would rather post a frontpaging deepdive blog than practise their commentary?)
- 1y ago
- tim333 1y agoThere are many forums with disageeable comments, reddit and others. At least on HN it tends to be constructive disagreement more than nastiness.