3 ms·

So the thing that struck me when I first started reading HN was that this place is a constant AMA with famous people! Real people, real hackers, who've done im

by SCdF 14y ago

So the thing that struck me when I first started reading HN was that this place is a constant AMA with famous people! Real people, real hackers, who've done impressive stuff, who aren't random bored teenagers in their boxers pretending to know about what they're waxing on about, comment here! People from Google, and MS, People who actually built the startup we're discussing, or are at the heart of the story that brought us here. And they're here, not because they really just want to talk about Rampart[0], but because they're hackers too, and they want to contribute to the mass discussions happening every day on HN. [0] http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/woody-harrelson-reddit-ama http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/woody-harrelson-reddit-...

DanielBMarkham 14y ago
Yeah and I want to say this the right way, but I probably won't. I don't give a shit who you are on HN. I'm here to collect useful stuff for the people I'm trying to help in my startups, not to get autographs. If you have something useful to contribute, thank you. I'll try to do the same. Otherwise? Who you are, how much you make, how much you sold out for, all of that? Not so much. This is just an awful, terrible, bad idea. Instead of us old-timers saying "Dang site! Turning into Reddit!" Now we're going to actively start trying to copy Reddit? WTF?
- SCdF 14y ago
  In case it's not obvious from the juxtaposition of our two posts, I completely agree. Having "tech famous" people on HN is great not because they're tech famous, but because they can provide the sorts of information that made them tech famous (as in, they're smart / knowledgeable). It's not important that they're famous, it's important that they can often provide insight into what we're talking about, because they were / are involved. Reddit AMAs, when they're about a specific person (as opposed to a profession) seem to mostly be "You're awesome, I just wanted to ask, how did you get so awesome?" and variants.
  - rustynails77 14y ago
    >seem to mostly be "You're awesome, I just wanted to ask, how did you get so awesome?" To be fair, that's why I come to HN instead of Reddit (which I NEVER visit). HN is an amazing site with many high quality posts - I think Reddit at the opposite end of the spectrum - because that's what it was when I last looked at it years ago. A variant of this idea by the OP could work if it was handled correctly - for example, if Richard Branson was invited to talk about establishing successful corporate cultures. If there was an emphasis on a specific individual with a specific topic, then this could work. Lastly, please don't turn HN into Reddit. I honestly believe this would kill the exact thing that makes this site unique.

by SCdF 14y ago

DanielBMarkham 14y ago

Yeah and I want to say this the right way, but I probably won't. I don't give a shit who you are on HN. I'm here to collect useful stuff for the people I'm trying to help in my startups, not to get autographs. If you have something useful to contribute, thank you. I'll try to do the same. Otherwise? Who you are, how much you make, how much you sold out for, all of that? Not so much. This is just an awful, terrible, bad idea. Instead of us old-timers saying "Dang site! Turning into Reddit!" Now we're going to actively start trying to copy Reddit? WTF?

SCdF 14y ago
In case it's not obvious from the juxtaposition of our two posts, I completely agree. Having "tech famous" people on HN is great not because they're tech famous, but because they can provide the sorts of information that made them tech famous (as in, they're smart / knowledgeable). It's not important that they're famous, it's important that they can often provide insight into what we're talking about, because they were / are involved. Reddit AMAs, when they're about a specific person (as opposed to a profession) seem to mostly be "You're awesome, I just wanted to ask, how did you get so awesome?" and variants.
- rustynails77 14y ago
  >seem to mostly be "You're awesome, I just wanted to ask, how did you get so awesome?" To be fair, that's why I come to HN instead of Reddit (which I NEVER visit). HN is an amazing site with many high quality posts - I think Reddit at the opposite end of the spectrum - because that's what it was when I last looked at it years ago. A variant of this idea by the OP could work if it was handled correctly - for example, if Richard Branson was invited to talk about establishing successful corporate cultures. If there was an emphasis on a specific individual with a specific topic, then this could work. Lastly, please don't turn HN into Reddit. I honestly believe this would kill the exact thing that makes this site unique.