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Reading a few hundred mostly low effort reactionary posts of people using the events in Venezuela as validation for their politics had a strong effect on my moo

Reading a few hundred mostly low effort reactionary posts of people using the events in Venezuela as validation for their politics had a strong effect on my mood. These sorts of events are tricky on HN, all the user can do is flag flag flag and hope you or others like you (mods) will sort it all out and give the front page its one thread on the topic, if we don't the front page will be consumed and the community will die. But we can't always rely on mods, you have lives and have to rely on certain pragmatism, you have to wait and see how the community reacts/events unfold to see if something should get a thread on the front page or risk the consequences. And I think you did weigh in but vouching on a single thread may have won out against the flagging, as it should. So I gave the thread a chance and started reading. One of the only changes I think HN could use, is mods being able to make a post in a thread that can not be voted on or replied to but will remain top post and simply stating that the community has ruled and this submission will live but every related submission will be killed as a dupe until the thread dies. But that would be very difficult to do without being accused of having an agenda by one side or the other. Part of the reason I avoid becoming too much a part of sites like HN is because I fear being asked to be more than a user. I do not envy your position but I appreciate all you do.

dang 9mo ago
First of all, you're a great HN user (thank you!) - anyone who posts about APL and J is close to our hearts. Throw in Gaddis (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45942274 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45942274) and Gass (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45793425 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45793425) and you're practically unique! > One of the only changes I think HN could use, is mods being able to make a post in a thread that can not be voted on or replied to but will remain top post and simply stating that the community has ruled and this submission will live but every related submission will be killed as a dupe until the thread dies. We do sometimes make pinned posts like that—I've listed a few below—but they're mostly for reminding people to follow the site guidelines. In a way, that includes the message you're talking about (i.e. we're allowing this thread because the community insists on it), but only implicitly. > Part of the reason I avoid becoming too much a part of sites like HN is because I fear being asked to be more than a user. Can you say more? What would constitute being asked to be more than a user? --- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46221528 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46221528 (Dec 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45203452 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45203452 (Sept 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44432526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44432526 (July 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43860905 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43860905 (May 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42992992 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42992992 (Feb 2025)
- ofalkaed 9mo ago
  >What would constitute being asked to be more than a user? That was mostly a way to say that I really don't want your job. Mostly, I want to retain my ability to occasionally make posts like the one I made in this thread. >practically unique! Are you saying that I am unique in a practical, salt of the earth fashion or that I am almost unique? I ultimately did exactly what I admonished in this thread and just admitted to wanting to cling to being able to be salty and moody, which fits well with almost unique. It was very Gassian in its phrasing and quite good. Even if unintended, it was very on point.
  - dang 9mo ago
    > Are you saying that I am unique in a practical, salt of the earth fashion Alas I was not, but I like this version so much better that I'll retroactively sign up for it :)

dang 9mo ago

First of all, you're a great HN user (thank you!) - anyone who posts about APL and J is close to our hearts. Throw in Gaddis (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45942274 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45942274) and Gass (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45793425 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45793425) and you're practically unique! > One of the only changes I think HN could use, is mods being able to make a post in a thread that can not be voted on or replied to but will remain top post and simply stating that the community has ruled and this submission will live but every related submission will be killed as a dupe until the thread dies. We do sometimes make pinned posts like that—I've listed a few below—but they're mostly for reminding people to follow the site guidelines. In a way, that includes the message you're talking about (i.e. we're allowing this thread because the community insists on it), but only implicitly. > Part of the reason I avoid becoming too much a part of sites like HN is because I fear being asked to be more than a user. Can you say more? What would constitute being asked to be more than a user? --- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46221528 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46221528 (Dec 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45203452 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45203452 (Sept 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44432526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44432526 (July 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43860905 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43860905 (May 2025) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42992992 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42992992 (Feb 2025)

ofalkaed 9mo ago
>What would constitute being asked to be more than a user? That was mostly a way to say that I really don't want your job. Mostly, I want to retain my ability to occasionally make posts like the one I made in this thread. >practically unique! Are you saying that I am unique in a practical, salt of the earth fashion or that I am almost unique? I ultimately did exactly what I admonished in this thread and just admitted to wanting to cling to being able to be salty and moody, which fits well with almost unique. It was very Gassian in its phrasing and quite good. Even if unintended, it was very on point.
- dang 9mo ago
  > Are you saying that I am unique in a practical, salt of the earth fashion Alas I was not, but I like this version so much better that I'll retroactively sign up for it :)