Do note that interacting on the net is one thing, dealing with a network of people such as friends and colleagues at a firm, is an entirely different ball game.

Do note that interacting on the net is one thing, dealing with a network of people such as friends and colleagues at a firm, is an entirely different ball game. Unspoken comments, reading between the lines, motivations behind bringing up a topic, moods, wit, having to respond to aggression immediately, saving face... Its on a different level. ---- In the case of HN, personally I feel its more polite not to mention it and see if someone with real experience echoes the same. The reason armchair psychology should get downvoted is the same reason idea-guys get downvoted when they talk about something they don't know much about. Although I have to admit, I've seen my experience on HN change. Earlier someone would chime in with real information, now I see similar arm chair diagnoses (on subjects = all) crop up.